What happened in China CATL, China's dominant battery manufacturer, is sending 2,000 skilled Chinese workers to Zaragoza, Spain, to commission what is described as one of Europe's largest EV battery gigafactories — a €4 billion project located in Figuerelas, a town with a population of just 1,000 people. CATL's Hungarian facility was expected to begin production by early 2026. Meanwhile, in February 2026, China's commerce ministry shifted its negotiating stance on EU tariffs, accepting that Chinese EV makers can engage directly with the EU on price undertakings — a significant diplomatic manoeuvre that could accelerate Chinese access to European markets. ## How it works / the detail The Zaragoza plant represents something categorically different from previous Chinese investment in Europe. This isn't a Chinese firm licensing technology or partnering with a local manufacturer. It is Chinese capital, Chinese workers, and Chinese operational know-how building core manufacturing infrastructure on European…