Santana Motors begins a new era in Linares with Its official presentation and a strategic agreement with BAIC
02/02/2026
Today marks a turning point for all of us at Santana Motors. After years of hard work, determination and close collaboration with the institutions and professionals of Linares, wehave officially presented the rebirth of a historic brand and the return of vehicle productionto our homeland.
The event, held at the Santana Factory, was attended by the President of the Regional Government of Andalusia, Juanma Moreno; Spain’s First Vice President and Minister ofFinance, María Jesús Montero; the Mayor of Linares, María Auxiliadora del Olmo; and ourCEO, Edu Blanco. For those of us who have been involved since the beginning, seeing thefactory alive again was both exciting and deeply inspiring.
Production returns to Linares: The first units are already on the road
Today we officially launched the production line of the new Santana 400D and Santana 400 PHEV. Fourteen years later, vehicles manufactured in Linares are once again on the road. The first unit was delivered to the Linares Chamber of Commerce — a symbolic gesturereflecting the brand’s longstanding bond with the city.
As we open this new chapter, we have deployed a strong commercial network across Spain, Portugal, Italy, Andorra and Gibraltar, along with a robust after-sales structure developedwith Grupo JPG, ready to provide fast and efficient technical support.
A decisive step: Strategic alliance between Santana Motors and BAIC
During the event, we signed an industrial and commercial agreement with BAIC Automotive Group, one of Asia’s most influential automotive groups. This partnershipmakes Santana Motors the exclusive European partner for the development, production and commercialisation of an all-new range of SUV and off-road vehicles with true Santana identity.
Starting in 2026, five new models — two mid-size SUVs, one compact SUV and two largeSUVs — will be assembled at the Santana Factory in SKD format. This project strengthensour industrial capability and positions Linares once again on the international automotive map.
During the signing, BAIC Deputy CEO Li Hui emphasised: “Santana is not just a brand; itis a symbol of pride for many families. Reviving this legacy also brings hope to Linares.” His words capture the magnitude of this moment.
Santana Factory: An Industrial hub ready for the future
The modernisation of the Santana Factory allows us to face this new era with advancedprocesses, scalable capacity and an industrial model designed for the years ahead. Itsreopening is a direct boost for employment, the auxiliary industry and the economic fabricof the province of Jaén.
At the same time, we continue caring for our heritage. Today we supported the presentationof the book “From Metalworks to Legend”, written by Juan Navarro, which explores Santana’s industrial history. We will also collaborate with the Santana Trophy in Morocco, where several of our new models will support the historic raid.
And very soon, we will take part in the Rally Dakar with a prototype developed by theSantana Racing Team and driven by Jesús Calleja, with our CEO Edu Blanco as co-driver. It is a clear statement of intent: Santana returns with the same robustness and adventurousspirit that defined our origins.
A new chapter that Is already a reality
Today’s presentation, the delivery of the first units and the signing of our agreement withBAIC mark the beginning of a solid, ambitious project with strong international projection. Santana Motors is back to stay, with a modern product range, advanced technologies and an unwavering commitment to Linares, Andalusia and Spain.