Chery Considers Opening Factory in Italy: Will Italian Government Incentives Seal the Deal?

Big moves in Italy on a Chinese car. As expected by the newspaper, number one Chery, Yin Tongyue, stopped in our country where he met the Minister of Industry and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso. At the heart of the direct communication, which would have taken place in Milan, was the possibility that the giant from Wuhu, in the Anhui region, would open a factory in Italy. There are three brands, mainly in the production of SUVs, that Chery is targeting for Europe: Omoda, Jaecoo and Exlantis. The first two with a mixed offer, between electric and hybrid, the third only with battery power. The biggest mystery on the outcome of the conversation between Urso and the president of Chery, but it is possible that the minister focused his speech on the benefits that the government would put on the table in exchange for a beneficial commitment in our country .

In parallel with Chery, and despite a recent rejection from Beijing, the Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy continues to talk to the senior management of Dongfeng, another group that ‘ look for outlets in Europe, which, among other things, is still a shareholder with the participation of Stellantis. least.

The official event of Chery’s European mission was the signing, in this case of executive vice president Zhang Guibing, of the agreement with the Spanish company Ebro-Ev Motors to produce 50 thousand vehicles in 2027 and 150 miles in 2029 at the first. Nissan plants in the free area of ​​Barcelona. The initiative will employ around 1,250 people for a public-private investment of 400 million. Chery, however, needed a second plant on the Old Continent; hence the emphasis from Palazzo Chigi with the added value of global excellence enjoyed by the Italian satellite sector.

Yin Tongyue, in addition to Urso, also met the senior management of the new company «Diversa», the result of the joint venture signed by the two big names in the distribution of vehicles in Italy: Autotorino, the first dealer in terms of volume and turnover, with Plinio Vanini at the top, and Intergea, the first dealer for cars sold, led by Alberto Di Tanno. The agreement provides for the creation of a large Italian center for the import and distribution of Chinese hybrid and electric vehicles, including vans, from various groups. Chery is among them, but it also seems to be Baic, Jac and others.

In the meantime, in Potenza, delegations from Fim, Ulm, Fismic and Uglm met with the prime minister Giorgia Meloni to whom they reiterated the warning cry of the need to act quickly to relaunch the Italian automotive sector and to pay maximum attention to the related industries, so far the most exposed part and with a harsh vision of social catastrophe, especially for the Melfi mol. On the request for a summit between the government and the CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, it seems that Meloni is waiting for the result of Minister Urso’s talks with investors in the country.

Tavares, for his part, has repeatedly made a negative judgment on the entry of a second manufacturer in Italy, especially a Chinese one.