GWM Reportedly to Plan First European Plant with 300,000-Unit Annual Target

Great Wall Motors previously set a goal to achieve annual overseas sales of 1 million vehicles by 2030.

On November 26, Great Wall Motors’ International President Parker Shi revealed in an interview that to revive sales, the company is scouting locations for its first European plant. The plan is to achieve an annual production target of 300,000 vehicles in Europe by 2029. It is reported that this first European automotive factory will produce models with various powertrains, including internal combustion engines and pure electric vehicles.

The choice of factory location is currently a key focus. Parker Shi disclosed that the Great Wall Motors team is weighing potential plant sites in countries including Spain and Hungary. Labor and logistics costs are critical factors influencing the site selection decision.

Public information shows that in overseas markets, Great Wall Motors has established three complete vehicle production bases in the Eurasia region, Thailand, and Brazil, and operates several KD plants in countries like Ecuador and Pakistan.

Official data indicates that Great Wall Motors’ overseas sales exceeded 450,000 units in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of 43.39%. Despite this strong overall performance in international markets, its sales in Europe still face challenges.

According to data from JATO Dynamics, while Great Wall Motors’ brand Ora had previously achieved cumulative sales of 453,141 units, the brand’s new vehicle registrations fell by 41% last year to 3,706 units. Furthermore, other Chinese automotive brands like BYD, NIO, and XPeng are also accelerating their expansion efforts in the European market.

It is reported that Great Wall Motors had previously set a goal to achieve annual overseas sales of 1 million units by 2030. Facing multiple pressures, the company is once again accelerating its European expansion strategy.

It is worth mentioning that in October of this year, Great Wall Motors announced at the GWM Europe Partner Day that it will accelerate its expansion plan in the European market starting in 2026. The company expects to launch at least seven new models between 2026 and 2028, including SUVs, passenger cars, and light commercial vehicles. The establishment of its first European factory may be part of implementing this plan.