Although originally the Spanish government sought to procure the German Leopard 1, the AMX-30 was ultimately awarded the contract due to its lower price and the ability to manufacture it in Spain.

Although final assembly was carried out by Santa Bárbara Sistemas, the production of the AMX-30E also included other companies in the country.

[6] Spain's status as a non-NATO country meant that the decision to grant the export license had to be reviewed by the Bundessicherheitsrat (Federal Security Council [de]), or the BSR, which was responsible for the coordination of the national defense policy.

[7] The deal was, however, stalled by pressure from the United Kingdom's Labour Party[8] on the basis that the Leopard's 105-millimeter (4.13 in) L7 tank gun was British technology.

[12] In terms of lethality, the AMX-30's Obus G high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) round was one of the most advanced projectiles at the time.

[15] Although the Leopard boasted greater armor than the AMX-30[10]—partially accounting for the weight difference between the two tanks—the latter was sold at a cheaper price.

[16] In May 1970, the Spanish government decided to sign a contract with the French company GIAT to begin production of the AMX-30.

[21] The first six AMX-30s were delivered by rail to the Spanish border city of Irún, in the Basque Country, and then transferred[how?]

This unit existed until 1975, when it was disbanded and its tanks transferred to the Uad-Ras Mechanized Infantry Regiment.

[22] This agreement laid the foundations for the upcoming tank plant at the industrial polygon of Las Canteras, near the town of Alcalá de Guadaíra.

Several parts of the tank were subcontracted to other Spanish companies, including Astilleros Españoles (turret), Boetticher, Duro Felguera and E. N. Bazán.

A number of modernization packages were proposed, including a suggestion to mount the AMX-30E's turret on a Leopard 1's chassis.

The gun's accuracy was improved through the installation of the new Mark 9 modification A/D fire control system, designed by Hughes Aircraft Company.

The new system allowed firing during the day and during night operations, and increased the likelihood of a first round impact.

A new ballistics computer, the NSC-800, was issued, as well as a new digital panel for the gunner, designed and manufactured by the Spanish company INISEL.

The tank commander also received a control unit that allowed the choice of ammunition for the gun and provided information on the ballistics of the round and the target to be engaged.

As a result, the loader received a presentation unit to display information on which round to load into the gun's breech and to communicate ballistic data received, including angular velocity, wind velocity, gun elevation and vehicle inclination.

[34] In the early 1990s Spain received a large number of M60 Patton tanks, replacing its fleet of M47s and M48s,[35] as well as its AMX-30EM1s.

[36] In the mid-1980s Indonesia approached Spain in an attempt to procure armaments for the modernization of its armed forces.