»Automobil Industrie« China

Beijing, 13th November 2025. Gestamp, the Spanish multinational specialized in the design, development and manufacture of highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry, continues to strengthen its presence in China, which has become one of its three most important markets. The company’s sales in the country reached €1,628 million by the end of 2024 —the latest full fiscal year— increasing an 80% between 2021 and 2024.

Gestamp began its operations in China in 2007 with the opening of a 30,000 sqm plant in Kunshan. Driven by the development of the Chinese market, the company’s business strategy in the country has been accordingly implemented, expanding its footprint In China, where it now operates 13 factories —with a combined production capacity of more than 400,000 sqm— and two research centers, one in Kunshan and the other in Shanghai.

The company has developed a strategic, competitive business model based on two main pillars: innovation and being close to its clients wherever they operate. Concretely, through its R&D capacities Gestamp enhances production efficiency, agility, optimize costs and assembly time, and reduce component weight without compromising safety, contributing to the development of the new electric mobility era.

Due to this trajectory, as an example of a company which has developed significant economic value in the Asian country, His Majesty the King of Spain has recently visited one of the facilities that Gestamp has in Beijing, in the context of the State visit taking place this week.

This official visit highlights Gestamp’s commitment and positive trajectory in establishing China as a key country in the business strategy, considering that it is the largest market in the automotive industry in terms of production.

Over its 18 years of operation in China, Gestamp has demonstrated agility and competitiveness across all its production plants thanks to its innovation, commitment, cutting-edge technologies, and operational digitalization capabilities. These strengths have enabled the multinational company to establish itself as a strategic partner for innovating and co-developing with automotive manufacturers the best engineering solutions for more sustainable mobility.

Since the start of its operations in the country, the multinational has focused on implementing its cutting-edge technologies, such as hot stamping, which is key to improving mobility in terms of sustainability and vehicle safety. Specifically, Gestamp has deployed a total of 17 hot stamping lines in China to provide both its international and Chinese customers with the most advanced technological and engineering solutions.

“Our business model has enabled Gestamp to become a high-value technological partner for automakers in China and around the world, being competitive in the key region driving the transformation of the automotive sector”, highlights Antonio López, CEO of Gestamp Asia Division.

During its trajectory in China, Gestamp has signed alliances and partnerships with local companies which have proved important to the electric vehicle market. As an example, the creation in 2018 of the Joint Venture with BHAP which was the beginning of a key partnership in Gestamp’s story in China.

Visit of His Majesty the King of Spain to a Gestamp facility in Beijing

The factory H.M. The King visited in Beijing exemplifies Gestamp’s growing story in China, as it is part of the Joint Venture with BHAP, the component subsidiary of the BAIC Group. The strategic partnership allows Gestamp to provide the best technological and innovative solutions to vehicle manufacturers in the electrification context the automotive sector is living through.

On a plant tour lead by Francisco J. Riberas, Executive Chairman of Gestamp, His Majesty the King Felipe VI had the opportunity to know in deep the capabilities and technologies used to manufacture products like assembled components and battery boxes for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) such as BBAC (Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd)– joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BAIC Motor-, Li Auto and Xiaomi Auto.

The King of Spain also visited the workshop area, which counts with more than 60,000 sqm, where Riberas and the management of the production facilities explained the state-of-the-art welding and joining technologies that are used to assemble components key structural components for electric vehicles.