Galloper is relaunching with Chinese SUVs under its badge while also pursuing vehicle production in Spain. The brand plans to partner with Coronet at the Santana Factory in Linares. The move could reshape Spain’s automotive field.
Galloper is moving toward vehicle production in Spain through its partnership with Coronet at the former Santana Factory in Linares, Jaén. A structure agreement to produce the Santana 400 pickup and Santana Cajal SUV there was signed in September, with production from Chinese-supplied kits planned to start in March 2027, costanachrichten.com reported. The site once stood for Spain’s off-road industry and may now get a new lease on life.
The deal between Galloper and Coronet extends beyond shipping. Linked to Anhui Coronet Tech, Coronet has spent years preparing for the project, with a focus on bringing the Santana Factory back to life. Others have tried to revive it before. Galloper’s return signals a bet on Spanish industry, though details remain under wraps.
Galloper and Coronet have disclosed few figures. They have not said how many models will roll out or when full-scale production will start. Nor have they said how much of each car will be made in Spain. The first step is to build the vehicles in China, then adapt them for Spain. Both companies are also developing new models for future production in Linares as they work to establish a Spanish manufacturing base.
Coronet’s reach goes further: the group works with Santana Motors and Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile, a Chinese joint venture, opening the door to more off-road vehicles built in Linares. Galloper Ibérica says the partnership has been years in the making. El Nuevo Observador reports that the industrial scheme aims to move beyond basic CKD/SKD imports: BAIC is transferring technology and intellectual property rights so Santana can produce vehicles under its own identity, with the first models assembled in SKD format. The project is advancing.
Galloper’s name still carries weight in Spain. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it stood for affordable, tough off-roaders with Japanese roots. Carlos Lobato, Galloper’s CEO, says the effort to bring Coronet to Linares began two years ago. He worked with Domingo Giner, CEO of DFSK Industriales España. Lobato puts it plainly: “In the coming years, Galloper will contribute significantly to the growth and development of this plant, generating activity and employment.”
The company is expanding its sales network and building a new image. The real test is how much of its future lineup will be made in Spain. No one has provided firm numbers, leaving questions about the scale and impact of the comeback. The move is already changing the Spanish SUV market. Buyers now look beyond price or badge; they want to know where their cars are built.
For anyone tracking which cars hold value and where they come from, Galloper’s story adds a twist. As reported earlier, the Spanish market rewards reliability and local roots. Galloper wants to win back trust with vehicles made in Spain.
The push at the Santana Factory is a bet on the future of Spanish car making. If Galloper follows through, Linares could see a impressive change. The numbers remain undisclosed, but Galloper wants to be more than a badge on imported vehicles. It aims to bring industry back to Linares. If the plan succeeds, the region could see the jobs and growth it has been waiting for.
