Great Wall Motor plans Bulgarian plant with 50,000-unit capacity

· Automotive & EV · Bulgaria · China

Great Wall Motor plans to build a production base in Bulgaria with annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles, according to Gasgoo, which also reported record third-quarter results for Geely. The Bulgarian plant would give the Chinese automaker a local manufacturing foothold inside the European Union, allowing it to serve European buyers from within the bloc. Details on investment, timing and which models would be built were not disclosed in the reports. The move fits a broader wave of Chinese automakers localizing production in Europe to reduce exposure to import duties and shorten supply chains. Great Wall already sells several brands in Europe, and a local plant would mark a step up from exporting.

Why it matters：Chinese automakers are increasingly building plants inside Europe to sidestep tariffs and trade friction; a Bulgarian base would extend that pattern into lower-cost EU member states and pressure established European producers.

Key points

  • Planned annual capacity of 50,000 units
  • Location in Bulgaria would place production inside the EU
  • Investment, timing and model lineup not disclosed

Sources (original reporting)

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