Great Wall Motor (GWM) plans to begin producing its Ora 5 crossover in Bulgaria during the first three months of 2027, according to an expansion plan presented at the company’s Tech Day in Milan. Production will start with the electric version, followed later by a hybrid. GWM says local manufacturing is intended to help avoid current and potential future tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles.
The company also plans to broaden its European sales footprint. After establishing direct operations in Spain and Italy and using a distributor in Poland, GWM expects to enter additional markets by 2027. The article names the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, Bulgaria and Greece for local-distributor coverage, and France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium for official presence.
GWM aims to grow its European lineup to 10 models within two years. The models mentioned include the Ora 5, Tank 300, H7 and Jolion Max, alongside further Ora 5 variants, the Wey G9 people carrier and P300 and S pickups. The company says its vehicles are being developed with European customers in mind. Its Munich R&D center, founded in 2021, works on suspension and chassis tuning and includes a design studio led by Spanish designer Arturo Peralta.