Great Wall Motor opens European HQ in Munich

Chinese car maker Great Wall Motor has opened its European headquarters in Munich, where it will focus on research & development (R&D) into electric vehicles and connectivity, administration and sales.

The office is close to BMW’s base, and aims to recruit 300 people by the end of 2022.

According to Invest in Bavaria, Great Wall Motor wants to invest hundreds of millions of euros in the Bavarian capital.

Hubert Aiwanger, Bavaria’s Minister of Economic Affairs, said: “GWM is, of course, a competitor for our domestic brands, but it also brings a boost from foreign companies for the research and development of electric cars in Bavaria. This brings jobs to Bavaria and creates competition on the road to the mobility transformation.”

Globally, GWM sold 884,000 cars from January to September this year, a year-on-year increase of 29.9%. The manufacturer exhibited its WEY Coffee 01 (pictured above) and ORA Cat cars at the Munich Auto Show 2021, and order books are due to open, with the first vehicles scheduled to be delivered in Europe in the first half of 2022.

Image: GWM