In early September, the Environmental Management Institute of Aragon (INAGA) in Spain published a highly anticipated decision: the battery gigafactory of Contemporary Star Energy (CSE), a joint venture between CATL and multinational automotive group Stellantis, has officially received its environmental authorization. At the same time, the comprehensive environmental permit for Stellantis’ Zaragoza automotive plant was amended to include battery cell and module production facilities.
This approval does not stand alone. Around July 27, the Regional Government of Aragon had already completed the final administrative approval to designate the project as a “Project of Regional Public Interest” (PIGA), and also finalized urban planning permits.
From the official announcement of the joint venture in December 2024, to the groundbreaking in November 2025, and now the completion of the entire permitting process, the planned 50 GWh LFP gigafactory is steadily moving from blueprint to reality.
According to public information, the CSE project is located in the municipalities of Figueruelas and Pedrola in the province of Zaragoza, Spain, and is directly integrated into Stellantis’ Zaragoza vehicle manufacturing complex, which has been in operation for over four decades.
The project is operated by CSE, a 50:50 joint venture between CATL and Stellantis, with total investment of approximately 4.1 billion euros (approx. $4.8 billion US), making it one of the largest Chinese industrial investments in Spain to date.
The project has also received roughly 300 million euros (approx. $351 million US) in funding support from the EU’s PERTE program for electric and connected vehicles, along with a 133 million euros (approx. $156 million US) grant from the Spanish government under the same program and an additional 14 million euros (approx. $16.4 million US) in support through the country’s industrial decarbonization plan.
The plant occupies about 89 hectares (891,800 square meters), with a total floor area of approximately 369,400 square meters. It will house six cell production lines and nine module assembly lines. The main cell production building (Celdas 01) is the largest single structure on site, with a floor area of 151,141 square meters.
On the technology front, the factory will focus on prismatic LFP cells. Compared with ternary materials, LFP offers clear advantages in safety, cycle life, and cost control, and is well suited to the European market’s demand for high-cost-performance batteries for small and medium-sized EVs.
The output batteries will primarily power B- and C-segment passenger cars under brands such as Peugeot, Opel, and Citroën. In addition to supplying the Spanish domestic market, they will also be exported to other Stellantis overseas plants.
Construction will proceed in four phases. The first phase involves retrofitting existing Stellantis buildings and constructing two new facilities, installing nine module assembly lines, with initial battery production targeted for early 2027. Once fully operational, the plant is planned to run 24 hours a day, 330 days per year, ramping up in three stages to reach full capacity around 2030.
Source: WeChat Official Account——新能源电池回收利用专业委员会
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