The Santana Motors plant in Linares, Jaén, is set to produce the JAC E30X, a compact electric car targeted at a price below €20,000 in Spain. The project is part of a wider relaunch of the historic factory, which is also associated with production of the Santana 400 and Cajal through technological partnerships including China’s BAIC International.
The Linares programme revives a site with a long automotive history. Earlier chapters include a manufacturing agreement with Land Rover in the 1950s and later production under Santana-Suzuki. The current industrial model is more gradual. Santana’s production process begins with semi-knocked-down kits, partially disassembled vehicles completed at the plant, with the stated aim of progressively increasing the contribution of Spanish and European suppliers. The Santana 400 and Cajal are associated with this programme; the E30X would extend it to a small electric hatchback.
JAC E30X: A New Player in Spain’s EV Market
The JAC E30X is a five-seat, front-wheel-lead electric hatchback in the B segment. European listings give its dimensions as approximately 4,025 mm long, 1,770 mm wide and 1,560 mm high, with a 2,620 mm wheelbase and a 310-litre boot. Market versions are also known as the EBOX. Assembly in Linares would place final vehicle work in Spain, while the wider programme’s stated localization goal is to build up regional supplier content over time.
Specifications vary between markets and versions. A smaller-battery configuration is listed with a range of about 293 km, while the larger version is described with a 51.5 kWh battery and up to 374 km of WLTP range. The higher-output configuration is listed at 100 kW, or about 136 hp, and 175 Nm of torque, with a 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h. These figures appear alongside listings for a lower-output version, so the final Spanish configuration will determine which specifications apply locally.
The larger-battery European listing also specifies 11 kW AC charging and approximately 64 kW DC charging. Equipment described for that market includes a 15.6-inch basic display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and vehicle-to-load capability of up to 3.3 kW. The original market descriptions also cite a 41 kWh battery and 60 kW DC charging for a smaller-range version. Battery, motor and charging specifications depend on the specific trim and market.
Features and Technology
The E30X is presented with equipment including intelligent LED headlights, a heat-pump climate system, DAB radio, mobile connectivity, Bluetooth, electric windows, power-adjustable mirrors, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, 16-inch alloy wheels and synthetic-leather upholstery. Listed safety and driver-assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, pre-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, a rear-view camera, autonomous emergency braking, an electronic parking brake and hill-start assistance.
Higher-spec versions are described with heated front seats, ambient LED lighting, a Hi-Fi sound system, a panoramic glass roof, power-folding mirrors, a 540-degree camera system with a transparent-chassis view, rear air vents and a cooled glovebox in the centre armrest. Equipment can differ by market and trim, as can battery capacity, range and charging hardware.
Competitive Pricing and Market Impact
Spanish pricing has not been announced in the material accompanying the project. The sub-€20,000 figure is a target for the Spanish offer, not a current Spanish list price. Prices elsewhere show how much the market can vary: the E30X has been listed at €19,850 in Norway, while a Slovak-market listing puts a 51.5 kWh version at €24,490. That Slovak specification includes a 100 kW motor and a listed 374 km range. Linares assembly is intended to support a more localized European offer, but the final price will depend on the Spanish version, equipment and commercial terms.
The project also sits within a wider policy and trade context. Completing semi-knocked-down kits in Spain does not, by itself, determine a vehicle’s origin or tariff treatment; those depend on the applicable trade and manufacturing rules. For Santana, the stated industrial objective is to increase the use of Spanish and European suppliers progressively. The approach combines a manufacturing relaunch with a staged effort to deepen local content. A related example of Chinese automakers’ efforts to establish a foothold in Spain is covered in this recent analysis.
For Linares, the significance extends beyond one model. The factory’s earlier history made it a major industrial presence in the region; the renewed operation now centres on Chinese technology partnerships and semi-knocked-down assembly, rather than an immediate return to fully integrated manufacturing. The Santana 400 and Cajal are already associated with the plant’s programme, while the E30X would add an electric model to the site’s renewed activity.
Independent European-market listings describe the E30X as a compact five-seat electric hatchback, while reporting by coches.net describes Santana’s assembly approach and its goal of progressively increasing Spanish and European supplier content. For Spanish buyers, the basic commercial details will be the final price, trim, battery and certified range of the version offered locally. If the target price is achieved, the E30X could broaden the choice of lower-cost electric cars in Spain as the country continues to expand its EV market.
