Great Wall Motor (GWM) is set to inaugurate its Brazilian plant on August 15, with a reported initial production capacity of 30,000 vehicles per year, which is expected to increase to 50,000 by 2028. The event will be attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and GWM chairman Wei Jianjun, as reported by Brazilian automotive media outlet AutoIndústria on August 5.
The first model to be assembled at the Brazilian plant will be the Haval H6 SUV, which will be unveiled during the ceremony. The factory’s welding and painting lines are already operational, with 530 employees currently hired, including 145 office and administrative staff.
Plans are underway for the factory to begin double-shift operations by the end of the year, with a total of 1,000 employees expected to be working at the facility. The report also mentions that the localization rates are set to be low in the first year but aims to reach a local procurement rate of approximately 35 percent by the second year, according to Ricardo Bastos, director of institutional affairs at GWM Brazil.
The Brazilian plant was previously owned by Mercedes-Benz, which ceased vehicle production in Brazil in 2021. In August 2021, GWM announced the acquisition of the Iracemápolis plant from Daimler Group, with plans to renovate the facility for an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, creating nearly 2,000 local jobs. Subsequently, in February 2022, the Daimler brand was rebranded as Mercedes-Benz.
GWM will join the ranks of Chinese automakers producing passenger vehicles in Brazil, following in the footsteps of BYD, which started production at its passenger vehicle plant on July 1. The BYD plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 150,000 new energy vehicles, with the Seagull compact EV being the first model to be produced.
GWM has experienced significant growth in overseas sales in recent years, with 41,088 vehicles sold overseas in July, marking a 7.60 percent year-on-year increase and a 2.55 percent month-on-month increase. From January to July, the company sold 238,746 vehicles overseas, maintaining a similar level compared to the same period last year.
In related news, Faraday Future’s second brand FX is reportedly set to launch its first model, the FX Super One, an MPV licensed from Great Wall Motor. The collaboration between the two companies signifies a strategic move in the automotive industry.
