Madrid Times

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has ended his longstanding relationship with Nike to become a prominent football representative for Swiss athletic brand On.

Spanish Banks Offer Deposit Rates of Up to 3.5% as Competition for Savings Intensifies

Retail banks are raising returns on term deposits as institutions compete for household liquidity and savers seek alternatives to traditional property investment.

Madrid Luxury Penthouse Auction Ends Without a Buyer

The Madrid regional government received no bids for a €6.3 million luxury penthouse acquired for institutional use, prolonging political scrutiny over the property purchase.

Renault Chief Calls for Stronger European Support for Automotive Manufacturing

Renault’s leadership is urging regulatory measures to support European carmakers as the industry confronts competition from Asian imports and the cost of meeting tighter environmental requirements.

Acciona Reorganises Group Around Construction, Concessions and Water Businesses

Spanish infrastructure group Acciona is restructuring its corporate organisation to give greater prominence to construction, concessions and water management as it pursues international projects.

La Palma Reconstruction Remains Incomplete Five Years After Volcanic Eruption

Residents and local authorities continue rebuilding homes, infrastructure and agricultural land five years after the 2021 eruption transformed large areas of the Canary Island.

Balearic Campaigners Protest Aviation Growth in Ibiza and Mallorca

Civic groups across the Balearic Islands are calling for limits on airport expansion and visitor growth as pressure intensifies over tourism’s impact on housing, infrastructure and local resources.

Thousands Protest Barcelona Airport Expansion Over Tourism and Climate Concerns

Around 5,000 people marched in Barcelona against plans to expand El Prat airport, citing concerns about emissions, housing pressure and further growth in mass tourism.

Spanish Auto Industry Warns Heavy Vehicles Could Miss EU Emissions Goals

Automotive manufacturers say slow fleet renewal and insufficient charging infrastructure could leave Spain far behind European Union decarbonisation targets for industrial vehicles.

Santana Partners With China’s BAIC to Assemble Electric Vehicles in Andalusia

Santana Motor has reached an agreement with BAIC to assemble electric vehicles in Linares, bringing new automotive manufacturing activity to the southern Spanish industrial centre.

Santander Accelerates Integration of TSB and Webster Acquisitions

Banco Santander is integrating its recently acquired TSB and Webster businesses as the Spanish banking group expands its retail and commercial presence in Britain and the United States.

Spain Backs European Push for Greater Semiconductor and Cloud Sovereignty

Spain is aligning its technology strategy with wider European efforts to expand domestic semiconductor, cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities and reduce reliance on external suppliers.

Santander Begins Workforce Restructuring at Two Technology Subsidiaries

Banco Santander has opened a collective redundancy process affecting Santander Digital Services and Gravity as the group reorganises its technology operations around a more centralised model.

Feijóo Steps Up Criticism of Sánchez Government Over Economic Management

Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is calling for structural reforms while criticising the government’s reliance on decrees and its failure to pass a new national budget.

China Overtakes Germany as Spain’s Leading International Supplier

Trade data show Chinese manufacturing and industrial shipments surpassing German imports into Spain, highlighting a significant shift in the country’s external supply relationships.

Spanish Senate Renews Bid to Question Ministers Over Ceuta Crisis

The Popular Party is again seeking appearances by Spain’s interior, defence and foreign ministers in the Senate over the government’s response to the migration emergency in Ceuta.

Spanish Prosecutors Investigate Alleged Abuse at Ceuta Migrant Centres

Prosecutors have opened protection proceedings after unaccompanied migrant minors reported mistreatment at overcrowded emergency accommodation facilities in Ceuta.

Ceuta Residents Protest as Migration Crisis Strains Reception Capacity

Hundreds of residents have demonstrated near the Moroccan border demanding stronger state intervention as Ceuta struggles to accommodate migrants following weeks of heavy irregular arrivals.

Sánchez Accuses PP and Vox of Using Ceuta Migration Crisis to Weaken Government

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the Popular Party and Vox are exploiting the migration crisis in Ceuta for political advantage, as the government faces continued pressure over its handling of the border emergency.

Spanish Supreme Court Clarifies Public Access Rights Across Privately Owned Rural Land

Spain’s courts have ruled against demands for public access through privately held estates, establishing a precedent on the balance between public rights of way and private property protections in rural areas.

Spanish Banks Offer Bonuses of Up to €1,000 as Competition for Deposits Intensifies

Major lenders including BBVA and Banco Sabadell are offering cash incentives of up to €1,000 for new payroll customers as Spanish banks compete more aggressively for retail deposits amid changing Eurozone interest rates.

Matrix Renewables Brings New Solar Cluster Online in Palencia

Matrix Renewables has completed a large photovoltaic development in Palencia as utility-scale solar generation expands across inland Spain and increases demand for additional transmission capacity.

Southern Spain and Catalonia Accelerate Water Investment After Years of Drought

Regional governments in Andalusia and Catalonia are increasing investment in desalination and agricultural water-management systems after prolonged drought placed pressure on water supplies and export-oriented farming.

Hitachi Energy Opens European Operations Centre in Madrid

Hitachi Energy has opened a new European operations hub in Madrid, expanding its presence in Spain as investment grows in electrification, grid technology and advanced engineering.

Spain’s Auto Industry Secures New Battery and Electric Vehicle Investment

Spanish manufacturers including Seat and Cupra are securing additional European investment in battery production and electric vehicle assembly as the country works to maintain its position as Europe’s second-largest vehicle producer.

Catalonia Approves Four New Rail Freight Terminals to Strengthen European Logistics Links

The Catalan government has authorised four freight terminals across the Empordà, Penedès, Ebre and Lleida corridors to shift more cargo from roads to rail and improve links between Mediterranean industry and European markets.

Spain Allocates €234 Million for AI, Green Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Training

The Spanish government has approved €234 million for vocational and digital training in fields including artificial intelligence, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing as employers face shortages of specialised workers.

Overtourism Concerns Push Spanish Cities and Islands to Review Tourist Taxes and Rental Rules

Authorities in Barcelona, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands are reassessing tourist taxes and short-term accommodation rules as record visitor numbers increase pressure on housing and public infrastructure.

Partido Popular Takes Ceuta Migration Debate to European Parliament

Spain’s opposition Partido Popular has secured a European Parliament debate on the Ceuta migration situation, bringing the domestic border dispute into a wider European discussion on security and the Schengen area.

Pedro Sánchez to Defend Spain’s Migration Policy at UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to use his United Nations General Assembly appearance to defend Spain’s migration and integration policies, arguing that regular migration is important to the country’s ageing workforce and pensio...

Spain Steps Up Integration and Citizenship Planning as Demographic Pressures Grow

The Spanish government is developing a 10-year plan covering international protection, migrant access to employment and measures against xenophobia as it prepares for longer-term demographic and labour-market change.

Madrid and Coastal Housing Prices Climb as Foreign Investment Adds to Affordability Pressure

Property prices in Madrid, the Costa del Sol and the Balearic Islands have reached new highs as foreign investment and luxury home purchases add to affordability pressures for local middle-income households.

Spain Expands Renewable Energy Lead With Second-Largest Output in European Union

Spain has become the European Union’s second-largest renewable energy producer, using extensive wind and solar capacity to support industrial investment and reduce dependence on conventional power sources.

Spain Freezes Aena Airport Charges Through 2031 to Support Airline Expansion

Spain’s Transport Ministry has frozen airport tariffs charged by Aena through the end of the decade, giving airlines greater cost certainty as the country seeks to sustain tourism growth and attract additional long-haul services.

Spain Records 94 Million International Visitors as Tourism Reaches New High

Spain received 94 million international tourists over the past year, supporting strong employment in hospitality while reinforcing the country’s position as one of Europe’s largest travel markets.