In 1958 Citroën

Citroën

Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...

, responding to the high tariff barriers

Mercantilism

Mercantilism is the economic doctrine in which government control of foreign trade is of paramount importance for ensuring the prosperity and security of the state. In particular, it demands a positive balance of trade. Mercantilism dominated Western European economic policy and discourse from...

 that protected Spain's domestic auto-makers, established a car plant in Galicia. Today the Peugeot

Peugeot

Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...

 - Citroën

Citroën

Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...

 (PSA) car plant at Vigo

Vigo

Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...

 is the largest employer in the region, with 9,700 on the payroll in 2007. It is the company's largest plant outside France.

The 66 hectare site includes factory unit covering panel stamping, welding, painting and assembly. Models produced include the C4 Picasso

Citroën C4 Picasso

The Citroën C4 Picasso is a range of two compact MPVs, a five-seater and a seven-seater , unveiled by French automaker Citroën in August 2006 and presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in September 2006 for the seven-seater, and in January 2007 for the five-seater...

 since 2006, Xsara Picasso

Citroën Xsara Picasso

The Citroën Xsara Picasso is a compact MPV released by Citroën in 1999. At the time of its release, two trim levels were available, LX and SX, with a choice of three engines two 1.6 and 1.8 litre petrols, and a 2.0 Litre HDI engine, all shared with the smaller Citroën Xsara. The Executive trim...

 and Citroën Berlingo

Citroën Berlingo

The Citroën Berlingo is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle produced by the French manufacturer Citroën since 1996. It was based on the Citroën ZX/Peugeot 306 estate floorpan and mechanicals...

 / Peugeot Partner

Peugeot Partner

The Peugeot Partner is a van and leisure activity vehicle made by the French car manufacturer Peugeot. The van is named Partner and the leisure activity vehicle Partner Combi. In Italy it is known as the Peugeot Ranch....

. In 2005 Vigo produced 422,950 vehicles as well as 46,410 CKD kits

CKD

A knock-down kit is a kit containing the parts needed to assemble a product...

. By 2007, supported by the success of the second generation Citroën Picasso

Citroën Picasso

Citroën Picasso can refer to different cars made by French auto maker Citroën:*Citroën Xsara Picasso *Citroën C4 Picasso or Citroën Grand C4 Picasso *Citroën C3 Picasso...

, the plant reported an output of 547,000, grouped into three production teams.

On 15 July 2008 the plant celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in the presence of Thierry Peugeot and of the king

Juan Carlos I of Spain

Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...

.