Great Wall Starts European Production in Bulgaria

It's no secret that Chinese carmakers are slowly migrating to Europe searching for new customers and looking to challenge local automakers with cheaper models. Great Wall Motor Co. will start production in Europe in Bulgaria in 2011, a source familiar with the matter told Autonews, as the company has already signed an agreement with Litex. The two partners will start the construction of a new plant in Lovech at 150km northeast of Sofia.

According to the aforementioned source, the production facility will have an estimated capacity of 50,000 units per year and will manufacture four models belonging to Great Wall that have already received the go-ahead from the European Union when it comes to local regulations.

The four models to be produced in Bulgaria are the Florid and Coolbear sedans, the Hover 5 SUV and the Wingle pickup, which will be assembled at the Lovech production facility. They are expected to be rolled off the assembly lines in the first half of 2011.

Great Wall is not the only company that wants to expand its offering in Europe, as Chery Automobile Co. will also begin production on the Old Continent in Turkey. The company is ready to invest $500 million for the new plant. It appears that two Chinese executives have visited the northwestern province of Sakarya in January 2009 to find a site for the construction of the new factory.

"The Chinese 'Chery" automotive firm has applied to Turkish authorities to make US$500 million of investments in Turkey, and open to world markets via our country," Turkey's Industry & Trade Minister Nihat Ergun said at the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.