Olazábal: "España está en los planes de fabricación de GWM en Europa"

Great Wall Motor (GWM), a Chinese automotive giant, has recently set its sights on the Spanish market, aiming to expand its manufacturing operations in Europe. The company's General Manager in Spain, Jos� Ignacio Olazábal, confirmed to EXPANSIÓN that GWM's plans in Spain extend beyond simple vehicle exports and sales.

The Ora 5, GWM's first model in Spain, is expected to be followed by other models, potentially including a production center in Spain, similar to those already established by Chery and Ebro in Barcelona, Leapmotor in Zaragoza, Geely in Valencia, SAIC-MG in Galicia, and BAIC in Linares. Olazábal revealed that Chinese delegations have been visiting and discussing potential manufacturing locations with various Spanish regional governments, indicating a strong interest in tapping into Spain's automotive market.

Españan has been on GWM's manufacturing map, and it will remain so, according to Olazábal. Visits and talks with Chinese delegations are ongoing, with the goal of identifying the most suitable locations for production. The company is already exploring electric vehicle production in Bulgaria, where existing assembly lines have been utilized by other local manufacturers.

Olazábal emphasized that European manufacturing is crucial for Chinese brands to comply with regulations and overcome logistical barriers. He noted that the Haval H7 is set to arrive in Spain by late 2023. A significant challenge for Chinese manufacturers in Europe is the logistics infrastructure, as current capacities may struggle to support the increased vehicle demand.

Another critical aspect for the success of new brands in Spain is the establishment of a well-coordinated and adequately sized network of dealerships. Olazábal acknowledged that even the best product cannot succeed without a reliable dealer network reaching customers effectively. GWM currently operates over 40 dealerships in Spain, with plans to expand to 50 before the end of the year, covering more than 80% of the national territory.

By 2027, GWM aims to consolidate its dealership network with 100 locations, representing a substantial increase. The company will introduce the Poer P500 pick-up truck as part of its five vehicle families – Ora, Haval, and Poer – each with a generalist market positioning. All models will feature multi-energy propulsion systems, ranging from combustion, hybrid, to electric powertrains. The Ora 5, already available in Spain, exemplifies this approach by offering electric, hybrid, and gasoline variants.