Overview
- GWM says teams are evaluating sites for a first European plant, with Spain and Hungary among the leading options.
- Labour and logistics costs, along with evolving EU industrial policies and customs duties, are central to the location decision as components would initially be shipped in for assembly.
- The European factory is slated to build models spanning internal combustion, hybrid and fully electric powertrains.
- The push follows soft regional performance, with Ora-brand registrations in Europe down 41% to 3,706 last year and the closure of GWM’s Munich headquarters in 2024 that cut about 100 jobs.
- GWM ties the Europe buildout to its broader international strategy, citing existing plants in Russia, Thailand and Brazil and reaffirming its 2030 overseas sales goal.