Great Wall Motor (GWM), the largest Chinese automaker with 100% private capital, announced today (16) an investment of BRL 10 billion by 2032 in Brazil, of which BRL 4 billion by 2025.
The company’s factory in Brazil, which previously belonged to Mercedes-Benz, is located in the São Paulo city of Iracemápolis and will produce electric vehicles, such as SUVs and pickup trucks. The forecast is to reach an installed capacity of 100 thousand vehicles per year.
“Electromobility is an irreversible and inexorable phenomenon and our plant in Iracemápolis will be the first plant outside the United States, on the American continent, that will produce hybrid and purely electric electrified vehicles”, announced Pedro Bentancourt, CEO of the company. “We also expect our hybrid vehicles to be flex hybrids, capable of being fueled with ethanol,” he added.
According to the government of the state of São Paulo and the city hall of Iracemápolis, the company can generate 2 thousand direct jobs by 2025. “This announcement of R$ 10 billion [em investimento] of the largest vehicle manufacturer in China is related to the production of 100% electrified vehicles in the interior of São Paulo. Initially, this factory will generate 2,000 short-term jobs”, said the governor of São Paulo, João Doria.
Pedro Bentancourt informed that the production can still generate 200 or 300 indirect jobs in maintenance services and 500 indirect jobs in systemists. Also according to the executive, the company also expects that, by 2025 or 2026, it will obtain a 50% nationalization rate for its products.
recharge points
GWM also announced the implementation of 100 charging points for electric and hybrid vehicles in municipalities in the state of São Paulo. According to the São Paulo government, the future GWM recharge network will be powered mainly through the installation of photovoltaic panels.
The charging equipment will be assembled at GWM’s points of sale and services, where charging will be free of charge and available for electrified vehicles of any model or manufacturer. Charging stations will also be installed in commercial establishments with large circulation, such as parking lots, shopping malls and supermarkets.
