Galloper is not just relaunching with Chinese SUVs under its badge. The brand is pushing to manufacture vehicles in Spain, partnering with Coronet at the iconic Santana Factory in Linares. This marks a pivotal shift for the Spanish automotive landscape.
Something is stirring in Linares. Galloper is no longer content to just import Chinese SUVs with its badge. The company is now making real moves to build vehicles in Spain. The plan centers on the old Santana Factory in Jaén. This site once stood for Spain’s off-road dreams. Now, it could see a new beginning.
Galloper’s deal with Coronet is more than a shipping arrangement. Coronet, tied to Anhui Coronet Tech, has spent years preparing for this. Their focus has been on bringing the Santana Factory back to life. Many have tried to revive it before. Galloper’s choice to return here shows a real bet on Spanish industry. The details are still under wraps.
In September, a framework agreement was signed to produce the Santana 400 pickup and Santana Cajal SUV in Linares, with production from Chinese-supplied kits planned to start in March 2027.
Galloper and Coronet are keeping quiet about numbers. No one knows how many models will roll out, when full-scale production will start, or how much of each car will be truly Spanish-made. The first step is to build the vehicles in China, then adapt them for Spain. But both companies are working on new models for future production in Linares. They want a real Spanish manufacturing base.
Coronet’s reach goes further. The group works with Santana Motors and Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile, a Chinese joint venture. This opens the door for more off-road vehicles to be built in Linares. Galloper Ibérica says this partnership has been years in the making. Now, the project is picking up speed.
According to El Nuevo Observador, the industrial scheme in Linares is designed to go beyond simple CKD/SKD import: BAIC is transferring technology and intellectual property rights so that Santana can produce vehicles under its own identity, with the first models assembled in SKD format.
Galloper’s name still means something 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 push to bring Coronet to Linares started 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 growing its sales network and building a new image. But the real test is simple. How much of its future lineup will be made in Spain? No one has given hard numbers. That leaves questions about the scale and impact of this comeback. Still, the move is already changing the Spanish SUV market. Buyers now look at more than 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 Spanish-made vehicles.
This push at the Santana Factory is not just nostalgia. It’s a bet on the future of Spanish car making. If Galloper follows through, it could change the game for Linares. The numbers are missing for now. But the message is clear. Galloper wants to be more than a badge for imports. It wants to bring real industry back to Linares. If it succeeds, the region could finally see the jobs and growth it has waited for.
