Great Wall Motor to resume vehicle assembly in Bulgaria

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) has announced plans to restart vehicle assembly at a factory in Bahovica, Bulgaria, starting in the first quarter of 2027. The facility, owned by Bulgaria Automotive Industry (BAI), is expected to have an annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles.

The initial focus will be the assembly of the Ora 5 compact crossover using semi-knocked down (SKD) kits from China. This move is intended to help GWM expand its European market presence and mitigate the impact of import tariffs, including a 10 percent standard duty and an additional 20.7 percent on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

GWM previously operated in the same location between 2012 and 2016 through a partnership with Litex Motors, which filed for bankruptcy in 2017. The company aims to build a localized ecosystem in Europe, potentially expanding its portfolio to include hybrid and internal combustion engine models to meet diverse market demands.