GWM now built in Europe too

• Written by Daniel Wong, Published on February 22, 2012, no comments

The economic weather over Europe might be gloomy, but things are looking up for Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motors (GWM).

The Associated Press has reported that GWM recently launched its assembly operations in Bulgaria, making GWM the first Chinese car maker to set up assembly operations in the European Union.

The 80 million Euro (RM320 million) car plant, which is owned by GWM and Litex Motors, a Bulgarian company, will start with an initial production number of 2,000 cars a year, with output gradually rising to 50,000 cars annually by 2014.

While GWM says the cars produced here will be aimed at the local market, there are plans in the pipeline to export to Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia.

For now the plant will be producing the Voleex C10 city car and the Steed 5 (sold here as the Wingle 5) pickup truck, with prices ranging between 8,000 and 12,500 Euros (RM32,000 to RM50,000).

GWM’s move into Bulgaria signals the Chinese carmaker’s intent of entering the European market, since Bulgaria is part of the EU, assembling cars there would allow GWM to sell cars with zero tariffs in other EU countries.

Source: Associated Press

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