Great Wall Motor to produce Ora 5 SUV in Bulgaria from 2027
Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor plans its first European plant in Bulgaria, targeting 50,000 vehicles a year with output starting in early 2027.
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what happened
Great Wall Motor will assemble its Ora 5 compact crossover in Bulgaria starting in early 2027, working with a partner on the ground. The company, which announced this on Tuesday, describes the site as its first manufacturing hub in Europe, and financial terms were not disclosed.
The facility is designed to reach 50,000 units annually, with production set to begin during the first three months of next year. The carmaker is aiming for 300,000 vehicles built in Europe by 2029, a target a senior executive gave Reuters last year. Its European sales are tiny, however: they fell almost 30% in 2025 to only 3,500 cars.
why it matters
Local output helps Chinese brands sidestep EU duties, since China-built EVs already face a 20.7% anti-subsidy levy on top of the bloc's 10% standard import tariff. Rivals BYD, Chery and Leapmotor are growing quickly in the region, so GWM's return matters for the wider segment.
market impact
Great Wall Motor: EU factory reduces tariff exposure, a positive for its European growth plans
tags
instruments
sources
- Great Wall Motor to build Ora 5 compact SUV in Bulgaria — Reuters, 27 October 2026 at 11:30 UTC
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