Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor opens factory in Brazil with multimillion-dollar investment
Photo: Palácio do Planalto.
Great Wall Motor (GWM) has officially launched operations at its first plant in Latin America, located in Iracemápolis, São Paulo, in the former Mercedes-Benz facilities. The inauguration, held on August 15, 2025, was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, underscoring the project’s political and economic significance.
The automaker has committed an initial investment of USD 74 million for the first year, with a long-term plan of over USD 1 billion over the next decade. The factory will initially produce three key models: the Poer pickup, the Haval H6 SUV, and the Wey 07 crossover, offering hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and flex-fuel (gasoline/ethanol) versions, in addition to a new 1.5 turbo flex engine tailored to the Brazilian market.
The industrial complex features advanced technology, including robotic welding lines, automated paint shops, and flexible assembly systems that allow multiple models to be produced on a single line. Currently employing around 600 workers, the plant aims to reach 1,000 employees by the end of 2025, with the potential to create up to 2,000 direct jobs once exports to other Latin American markets begin.
In addition, GWM announced the establishment of a Research & Development (R&D) center of more than 15,000 m² adjacent to the plant, staffed by around 60 professionals focused on flex-fuel innovations and adapting global models to regional needs.
The company has already partnered with 18 local suppliers and aims to achieve 60% local integration by 2026. Key global automotive suppliers, such as BASF, Bosch, Continental, DuPont, and Goodyear, are part of this growing ecosystem.
During the inauguration, President Lula emphasized the importance of attracting new players to Brazil’s auto industry: “Those who want to leave, let them leave. Those who want to come, we will welcome them with open arms,” in a clear reference to the rising competition between Chinese manufacturers and traditional automakers in the country.
With this move, GWM positions Brazil as its strategic production hub for South America, with future production capacity expected to reach 100,000 vehicles per year. The plant also reinforces China’s growing influence in the region’s automotive landscape, especially in sustainable mobility, where Chinese automakers are already leading globally.
* Original text in Spanish. Translated by Large Language Model (LLM) technology.
Main Source:
Great Wall Motors inauguró su fábrica en Brasil – Motor 1
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