The Chinese GWM held a grand opening ceremony on Friday (15) in Iracemápolis, São Paulo, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in attendance. This event marked the establishment of their factory and the announcement of plans to build the first research and development center in South America.
The factory in Iracemápolis is GWM’s initial production facility in the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. It is the third production facility outside of China, alongside the company’s locations in Russia and Thailand, and is situated on the site of the former Mercedes-Benz car factory.
GWM, with plans to invest R $ 10 billion in Brazil over the next decade, will begin operations in Iracemápolis with three confirmed vehicle models.
The GWM division in Brazil can currently manufacture up to 50,000 vehicles annually.
A GWM Research & Development Center (R&D) will be constructed in South America, marking the automaker’s first facility in the region, according to information provided by the Chinese company to the media.
Lula commended foreign automakers that shut down production in the country during the inauguration ceremony.
BYD, a Chinese company in the automotive industry, recently revealed plans to commence production of electric vehicles at its new factory in Camaçari, Bahia. This industrial site was previously under the ownership of Ford Motor, and BYD aims to manufacture approximately 50,000 cars there this year.
Lula mentioned that as American and German companies leave Brazil, another Chinese company arrives.
Mercedes-Benz continues to manufacture bus and truck chassis in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, while Ford ceased vehicle production in Brazil in 2021.
