According to Spanish media reports, production is set to begin in Vigo in 2027 or 2028. It is expected that the STLA Small will also be implemented at the Zaragoza plant. However, there is no further information on this. According to El Mundo, an agreement on internal efficiency and competitiveness targets still needs to be reached before a final commitment can be made.
As the name suggests, the STLA Small is intended for smaller vehicles and is basically intended to replace the current CMP/e-CMP. The small and compact cars and light commercial vehicles will be between 3.50 and 4.35 meters long. Batteries between 32 and 82 kWh can be installed in the underbody. A drive module with 70 kW will be installed in the smaller models, while the larger STLA Small series will be able to deliver between 125 and 180 kW. Unlike the current platform generation, the STLA Small is primarily designed for electric drives, although combustion engines are still possible. Previously, the e-CMP was derived from the CMP combustion engine platform – in future it will be the other way around.
Electric models are already being built in Vigo: The Peugeot e-2008 uses the aforementioned e-CMP, while the electric panel van models Citroën ë-Berlingo, Fiat E-Doblò, Opel Combo Electric, Peugeot E-Rifter/E-Partner and Toyota Proace City Electric are based on a modified version of the EMP-2.
The Figueruelas plant in Zaragoza is also suitable for the STLA Small: The Opel Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-208 and soon the Lancia Ypsilon are already being built there on the basis of the e-CMP. Together, around one billion euros is to be invested in both plants, according to the Spanish media. However, the exact model distribution is not yet known.
On the other hand, the future of the Madrid plant, where the Citroën ë-C4 and ë-C4 X series are currently produced, is unclear. There is apparently still no commitment for electric cars based on the upcoming platforms. In total, Stellantis and its three plants account for over 38 per cent of Spain’s total car production.
According to Forococheselectricos, Stellantis is also examining the construction of a battery factory in Zaragoza with an annual capacity of 40 GWh. For Stellantis, this would be the fourth European battery factory after the three ACC plants in France, Germany and Italy. It is not yet known whether the plant with the project name Antares will be built by Stellantis itself, again via ACC (with Total/Saft and Mercedes-Benz) or with another cell partner. However, there is the prospect of millions in funding from the Spanish PERTE program. However, instead of the hoped-for 200 million euros in funding for the three-billion-euro project, Stellantis has only been promised 55.9 million euros.
According to El Mundo, this caused “great disappointment” at the manufacturer, which is said to have forced the government of Pedro Sanchez to issue a statement in which it assured that it was “working on a roadmap to create the necessary conditions and comply with the amount of aid”. The difference (or part of it) could come not from the central government in Madrid, but from the provincial government of Aragon. However, no agreement has yet been reached.
