The GWM Ora 5 BEV is set to be manufactured in Bulgaria starting in 2027.
Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is focusing heavily on the GWM Ora 5 model series as part of its growth strategy for the European market. During the GWM Tech Day in Milan, the company outlined its plans to manufacture the battery-electric Ora 5 directly in Europe going forward.
To achieve this, the company has entered into a strategic partnership with Bulgarian Automotive Industry (BAI) to establish production of this all-electric compact vehicle (BEV) in Bulgaria. The official start of production at the Bulgarian facility is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Image Gallery: GWM Ora 5 (2026)
With this move, the company is transitioning from pure vehicle imports to a regional value chain and greater proximity to customers on the ground. The plant in Bulgaria marks the beginning of a more comprehensive manufacturing strategy: GWM plans to gradually establish integrated industrial parks for automobiles and supply components across Europe, which are set to grow alongside its expanding range of models.
In addition to existing markets such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, and the Netherlands, further market entries, including in France, are imminent.
According to GWM, the development of the Ora 5 has been guided from the outset by the specific requirements and regulations of the European market. A key contributor to this is GWM’s research and development center in Munich, established in 2012. The engineering and development teams there are involved early in the conception of new model series and also participated in the testing drives for the Ora 5.
GWM Ora 5 (2026)
Image courtesy of: Great Wall Motors
Further variants of the Ora 5 starting in 2027
As part of the driver testing phase, the testers covered over 100,000 kilometers on European roads to tailor the suspension, steering setup, powertrain calibration, and ergonomics specifically to local driving habits and patterns. These testing efforts were supplemented by several thousand hours of market and customer research.
This level of development work is supported by substantial global investments: GWM employs more than 28,000 people worldwide in research and development and spends over 1.3 billion euros annually on this area according to its own statements. Ongoing model updates and portfolio expansion are also planned for the Ora 5. In the German market, the series will be expanded in 2027 with a hatchback and a station wagon variant, allowing GWM to strengthen its position in the segment of fully electric volume models.
More from GWM: