•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Navarre and HiTHIUM have signed the investment commitment for a new battery plant in a ceremony attended by President Sánchez. The project is set to involve around 400 million euros in investment and is expected to create 700 direct jobs.
According to the agreement, the plant will be located in Navarre and is presented as a significant contribution to Europe’s green energy transition, while also strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and Spain. Navarre’s president, María Chivite, said that while there are still steps and details to clarify, the investment will materialize in the community.
Chivite also announced that the company plans to begin production in 2027. She highlighted Navarre’s experience in delivering foreign projects and pointed to the seriousness of the community regarding work, the proximity of institutions, and the strengthening of local ecosystems tied to such investments.
Industry and Ecological and Digital Transition Minister Mikel Irujo said the agreement follows two years of direct contacts. He cited seven visits by Chinese representatives to Navarre and four trips to China by regional executive delegations.
Irujo added that Navarre was selected due to its industrial ecosystem, including engineering services, the level of technological centers, industrial services, training offerings, universities, and vocational training.
Qi Tang, General Manager of the Strategic Development Office of Hithium, participated in the meeting on behalf of the company. Tang said the agreement represents an important step in Hithium’s investment in Navarre and expressed confidence that the project will move forward.
He also said Hithium views Navarre and Spain as an “ideal business atmosphere” not only for the company but also for other Chinese companies seeking to develop activities in Europe. Tang cited the efficiency of Navarre authorities during the process and the support provided during decision-making as factors behind choosing the community.
Relations between Navarre and Hithium have developed over several months. In November of the previous year, during Navarre’s trade mission to China, President Chivite visited the company’s facilities in Chongqing. In March, Hithium announced its intention to build a gigafactory in Navarre, intended for both cell manufacturing and the assembly of stationary storage systems, with a total investment of about 400 million euros.
On March 10, a meeting took place at the Palace of Navarre between President Chivite, Minister Irujo, Hithium’s Director of Investments, Hao Wang, and the company’s Legal Director, Lily Lu.
HiTHIUM is a Chinese company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Xiamen. It has battery production facilities in Xiamen, Chongqing and Heze in China, as well as in Dallas, United States. The new plant will be the company’s second site outside China and its first in the European Union.
The company specializes in stationary energy storage systems (BESS). It has multiple R&D centers and production plants, and is described as one of the world’s leading players in large-scale batteries for industrial, commercial and utility applications. It is the leading company in this sector in China and the second in the world.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
