Historic Spanish 4×4 manufacturer Santana Motors is being revived with Chinese investment and a bold plan to launch an all-new off-road pickup built at its former factory in Linares.

Fourteen years after the company ceased production, Santana Motors is preparing to roll out a new generation of off-road vehicles thanks to a strategic alliance with Zhengzhou Nissan — a joint venture between Nissan and Dongfeng — and Anhui Coronet Tech, a rising Chinese automotive firm specialising in commercial and military vehicles.

Production will restart later this year at the company’s old site in Linares, Andalusia, which has sat idle since Santana closed its doors in 2011 following years of financial struggle. The revived Santana brand will focus on rugged 4×4 vehicles aimed squarely at off-road enthusiasts, beginning with a new pickup that is expected to go toe-to-toe with models like the Isuzu D-Max and even the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster.

Diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains

Though full details are still under wraps, the new Santana pickup will offer both diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain options. It’s likely that the PHEV variant will be based on the Nissan Frontier Pro-4X, combining a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine with a single electric motor. Claimed outputs are impressive at more than 400hp and 800Nm of torque, with an electric-only range quoted at up to 84 miles, though that figure is based on China’s rather generous test cycles.

A teaser image and accompanying announcements confirm that Santana intends to launch a full model range later in the year, all designed to embody the company’s traditional values of toughness, reliability and all-terrain performance, while embracing modern sustainability standards.

Santana factory revival and jobs

Santana’s return will bring a welcome boost to the Linares region, around 160 miles south of Madrid, with an initial investment creating up to 200 jobs, with 150 in manufacturing and 50 in administrative roles.

Speaking at the signing of the agreement, Edu Blanco, CEO of Santana Motors, said: “This alliance marks a significant milestone for Santana Motors and represents a decisive step towards the future. We are proud to join forces with Zhengzhou Nissan and Anhui Coronet, reinforcing our vision of manufacturing innovative vehicles that embody Santana’s legendary tradition of quality and robustness, driving automotive industry growth and economic development in Linares and beyond.”

The Santana Factory in Linares will act as the hub for engineering and final assembly, aiming to position itself as a new centre of excellence for off-road vehicle manufacturing. The company says the project has been in development for several years, with joint engineering teams working to develop and certify the new platform.

Familiar name, new era

For fans of the brand, the return of Santana Motors will evoke plenty of nostalgia. Founded in 1956, the company began producing Land Rovers under licence in 1958. It eventually developed its own models, before partnering with Suzuki in the 1980s to build models including the Jimny and Vitara.

New Santana pickup follows classic PS-10 model
Santana PS-10 Anibal

Later, in partnership with Iveco, it built the Massif and Campagnola — restyled versions of its PS-10 aimed at rivalling the Defender. However, the venture collapsed when Iveco pulled out in 2011, leaving Santana with losses of €42 million (£38m) and a final production tally of just 769 vehicles that year.

What’s next for Santana?

The revived Santana Motors is expected to formally unveil its new vehicle line-up in the final quarter of 2025. Details on pricing, specifications, and market rollout will be revealed in due course. For now, the rebirth of the Santana name, the reactivation of the Linares factory, and the promise of a new rugged pickup truck is sure to pique interest among off-road enthusiasts, utility vehicle buyers and fans of one of Spain’s most iconic automotive brands.

Phil Huff
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