 | |
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Predecessors | Ford Motor Ibérica |
| Founded | 1954; 72 years ago (1954) |
| Defunct | 1987 |
| Fate | absorbed intoNissan Motor Ibérica |
| Headquarters | , Spain |
| Products | Vehicles,tractors |
Ebro trucks was a Spanish brand of light and mediumtrucks andbuses, as well asall-wheel-drive utility vehicles with plants located inBarcelona,Madrid,Ávila, andCordoba.
Ebro trucks's parent company,Motor Ibérica, was set up in 1954 to build original British-designedFord trucks based on Ford'sThames Trader ET4 4X2 and ET6 6X4 models under license using the name EBRO during the 1950s and 1960s.[1]
During the late-1960s and early-1970s, the company took over four Spanish light vehicle makers: Fadisa, (Alfa Romeo Romeo vans), Aisa (Avia trucks), Siata (SEAT car derived minivans), andViasa (variousJeep 4x4s andForward Control utility vehicles). It also took over the Spanish branch ofPerkins engines.[2]
This resulted in a real frenzy ofbadge engineering, as one could see Avia-badged Jeeps, Ebro-badged Alfa-Romeos, and so on. Meanwhile, Ebro introduced tilt-cab Ford 'D'-Series derived models for loads of between l'/2 and 7 tons and gradually added new models until the range covered 2- and 3-axle rigids and articulated types from 3 to 27 tons capacity.
Ebro also entered the agricultural tractor market through a license agreement withMassey Ferguson, which eventually led to the later becoming the controlling shareholder in Motor Ibérica.
In the 1980s, Ebro launched the 'E'-Series trucks range, comprising some six models from 3,500 to 11,200 kg gross, and the 'P'-Series for gross weights of 13,000 to 27,000 kg. The lighter Avia range also continued in production.
In 1979Nissan Motors (notNissan Diesel, the truck subsidiary) had taken a 34% stake in Motor Ibérica, which by the autumn of 1982 had increased to 53%.[3]
Nissan then took complete control in 1987, following Spain's accession to theEEC. From then on the company was namedNissan Motor Ibérica. During a short period, JapaneseKubota tractors were assembled and marketed in Spain asEbro-Kubota.
Following the Nissan takeover, a "badge slide" from Ebro to Nissan took place. This was not without surprising occurrences, such as Ebro-badgedNissan Patrols that were sold in some European countries. The Ebrolight commercial range became theNissan Trade. During the 1980s and 1990s Ebro produced the Ebro Nissan Vanette panel vans and the Ebro Nissan Patrol 4X4. Today, the Ebro name has been fully dropped and the current commercial range consists of theNissan Cabstar and theNissan Atleon.
Currently, Spanish Nissan are manufacturing the Cabstar light truck range and the Atleon heavy trucks range at their Nissan Motors Avila plant.
In 2021 the Ebro trademark was acquired by spanish EV Motors
At the 2023Barcelona Auto Show, the Spanish company Ebro announced the revival of the brand after thirty-six years out of the market. It is returning with a 100% electric pickup truck (based on the old Nissan Navara chassis and design) that will be available for sale starting in 2025.[4]
In 2023, a joint venture was signed between EV Motors and the Chinese companyChery Automobile for the assembly of Chery-branded Ebro models at the Barcelona plant, to be marketed in Spain and some European markets. In november 2024, assembly (via CKD) of theChery Tiggo 7 andTiggo 8 models began; the two models were renamed Ebro S700 and Ebro S800.[5][6]
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