Great Wall Motor opens its first European plant in Bulgaria

Great Wall Motor opens its first European plant in Bulgaria

Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor has opened its first factory in Europe, a major part of its strategy to grow in the region. Great Wall’s plant in Bulgaria will assemble 50,000 units of the Hover SUV, Steed pick-up and Voleex city car models. The Hover is sold in Malaysia as the Haval H5, while the Steed is branded as Wingle here.

The factory in Lovech, 150 km northeast of capital Sofia, will initially build cars for its host market before exporting to other European countries. Investment in the Lovech plant by Litex Motors, a joint venture company in which Great Wall holds a minority stake, is targeted to reach 100 million euros.

Great Wall exported 83,000 vehicles from China to 120 countries last year. In Europe, Great Wall currently sells cars in Italy and Bulgaria. The company plans to launch the Steed/Wingle in the UK next month. The company is also making great strides in its Dakar Rally programme, click here to read more.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • _xXx_ on Feb 24, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    Asian co in Europe? No big deal laa, jgn2 potong mesia bukak kat Detroit….hehe

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  • Masked Ryder on Feb 24, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Remember i said the China Car Manufacturer is comming Fast & Mean ? the Korean may loose out on low price advantage, even Chery is employing Mini’s Chief Designer launching new brand called Qoros in Europe.

    I believe the first target is Eastern Europe soon move on to Western Europe as well, just when the Korean is aiming their arrow at the Japanese not realising the is a Chinese arrow is already on the booty.

    I may shorthern my prediction of 1 decade to half base on the speed of this China Car Mfg, some of their car already meet Euro NCAP 4 Star safety, with outsource design & technical imput from those car manufacturer they bought, I am not supprise Korean car may lost 50% of their market share to the Chinese car 5 years down the road.

    What China need to do is consolidate their car manufacture to 3-5 company as the present China market had too many mfg which divert their investment & not cost effective.

    Once the Dragon fully awakened Kimchi Muncher will be quashed.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • VOLVO FOR LIFE on Feb 24, 2012 at 9:07 pm

      problem is. from day one. the japanese intended to make good cheap cars. the koreans didn’t but only so was because they didn’t had the expertise and are now making rather good cars. meanwhile the damn tanah besar china are just hell bent on earning lots of money and thus make really crappy cars, do they not have the expertise? no. they already took over so many car companies and their JV’s are too many too remember. goodbye to the logic of the car industry. the future may have to be driving junk boxes if the situation gets worse.

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  • francis on Feb 24, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    No more “Made in China” philosophy

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  • agree. see how GWM (Great Wall Motor) suprised us in Rallay Dakar, takeover Volvo by Geely also rumor that Chery maybe build partnership with big player like Jaguar Land Rover and Subaru to developing new car .

    And like Masked Ryder say I also suprised that chery in developing process to create new Qoros brand. Suprised that they successfull bring world best talent like Mini Cooper chief design, senior executive from GM, Ford, VW etc to setup new brand and partnership with world best supplier and manufacturer to create 1st premium brand from China. Excited to watch 1st QOROS concept car at Beijing Auto Show on March 2012.

    and last but not least China concept car. Changan and BAIC successfully making good concept car. So it proven their ability to design good car

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    • Shanice Wang on Feb 25, 2012 at 1:35 pm

      Actually the first autoshow Qoros is planning to participate is the Geneva Autoshow in 2013. A lot of people are very excited about that already.

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  • James on Feb 24, 2012 at 11:59 pm

    Chinese auto makers are really progressing fast.. According to Top Gear, we’ll be all driving chinese make cars in another 5 years time. Sounds promising?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • autojohndoe on Feb 25, 2012 at 10:42 am

      well… that is their assumption, since their not reliable industry analyst…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Masked Ryder on Feb 25, 2012 at 2:21 pm

        Just go & check out on Matt Blog Best Seliing Car, you can see the China Car Sales figure in incresing at quite a fast pace, begin at those South America country now moving toward Europe, you mean you need industry analyst like those of Korean car is achieving this & that ? come on those are actually paid advertisement, those so call analyst would write good thing about your car if you are willing to pay them, by cash or advertise on their magazine or website.

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        • Analysis: A decade of development in the Chinese automobile industry

          http://autonews.gasgoo.com/commentary/analysis-a-decade-of-development-in-the-chinese-a-111120.shtml

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • awan-nano on Feb 25, 2012 at 12:18 am

    tetap lah juga nama pelik2… Voleex.. Wing le… Geely..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • where is proton? lol

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