Great Wall Motor (GWM) opened its newly-built vehicle assembly plant in Brazil, marking a key milestone in the Chinese state-owned automaker’s expansion into South America. The inauguration ceremony, which took place on 15th August, was attended by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and GWM’s CEO Mu Feng.
GWM acquired the site of the plant in Iracemápolis, São Paulo, from Daimler AG some four years earlier. The new facility will serve as a production hub for markets across Latin America, shortening delivery times in markets such as Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
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The facility, with an initial annual production capacity of 50,000 vehicles, features advanced and automated manufacturing processes in its welding, paint shop, and final assembly lines. It will initially produce models such as the Haval H6 and H9 SUVs, and the GWM Poer pickup truck.
Reports have suggested that GWM is already on the look-out for a new site in Brazil to build a second plant, as it continues to expand its presence in South America. The company ultimately aims to sell up to 300,000 vehicles annually in Brazil, the region’s largest vehicle market.
