Barcelona promotes automobile innovation

To coincide with the opening of the Barcelona Motor Fair on 11 May the head of the Catalan government, Artur Mas, has announced a plan for a car and motorbike cluster in the Barcelona area to support development, innovation, training and sustainable mobility in the industry.

The automobile sector has traditionally been one of the backbones of the region’s economy and has attracted names such as Seat and Nissan, and component manufacturers Ficosa, Doga and Gestamp. It generates about 100,000 jobs and has a turnover of €14 billion a year. About 80 per cent of the vehicles and 50 per cent of the components manufactured in the area are exported.

Barcelona has been chosen as the site for the development because of its modern communications, its centres of higher education and design, its port and its long experience in the motor industry.

The Barcelona motor show coincides with the Barcelona Gran Prix Santander (9-12 May), which traditionally opens the European season.