China - The OEM has started constructing a new manufacturing base in Yongchuan, Chongqing. It is costing 4.5 billion yuan (US$710m) and is expected to be completed before the end of 2019.
"For this project, Great Wall Motors (GWM) will run at a higher and newer starting point," commented the company's chairman Wei Jianjun. "To be specific, we will provide advanced manufacturing equipment and work out a scientific planning of manufacturing base and supporting facilities in the park. What we want is a long-term stable development."
The plant will have an annual output capacity of 160,000 vehicles, producing Great Wall pick-ups and Haval SUVs. It will cover an area of 800,000 sq.m, and will create around 10,000 jobs.
GWM will have four manufacturing bases once the new plant is created, with the other three located in Baoding, Tianjin and Xushui. The company believes that the facility in Chongqing marks an important step in its goal to increase overall capacity, and is therefore of "great strategic significant for GWM's development."
The construction of the new plant is one of several announcements made by the Chinese OEM of late. It recently signed a letter of intent alongside BMW to jointly produce electric Mini vehicles in China, which could start as early as 2021.
