GWM will build the Ora 5 in Bulgaria starting in 2027. The factory will have an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles.
Great Wall Motor has signed a production agreement with Bulgaria Automotive Industry, according to Reuters. The compact SUV Ora 5 is set to roll off the production line in Bulgaria starting from the first quarter of 2027, with an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles. This will be GWM’s first factory in Europe.
Bahovitsa, SKD and tariffs
The partner’s facility is located in Bahovitsa near Lovech. GWM is familiar with this location: it established an SKD assembly plant there in February 2012 and became the first Chinese manufacturer to set up a production line in an EU country. Now it is returning to its old approach.
The electric version will be launched first. Other powertrains and additional models will follow later, as the Ora 5 is set to be offered in Europe as an EV, hybrid, and gasoline version. GWM’s chief technology officer, Nicole Wu, announced a start with SKD models, meaning imported, partially assembled kits. Local sourcing of some components will begin from the first day of production, so the core parts of the car will still come from China.
The background is clear. GWM’s electric vehicles from China face an additional 20.7% equalization tariff on top of the standard 10%. Reuters also cites a company representative who said GWM aims to produce 300,000 vehicles per year in Europe by 2029.
Ora 5 in China and GWM’s Poor Performance in Europe
In the Chinese market, the Ora 5 is available as an EV, hybrid, and gasoline version. The electric version costs between 99,8 thousand RMB (15,0 thousand USD) and 133,8 thousand RMB (20,1 thousand USD). It features a SVOLT LFP battery with a capacity of 45.3 or 58.3 kWh, offering a maximum range of 580 km on the CLTC cycle. There are no European prices or specifications available, and the CLTC range is a catalog figure that will be significantly shorter in real-world driving conditions.
GWM was one of the first Chinese manufacturers in Europe, but it is struggling there. In 2025, it sold around 3,5 thousand vehicles, nearly 30% less than the previous year. During that time, BYD, Chery, and Leapmotor expanded their presence in the region.
The recovery plan is ambitious:
at least 10 new models and versions within two years, including hybrids and gasoline-powered ones,
60 thousand vehicles sold in Europe by 2027,
3-5% market share in Europe by 2030.
A rise from 3.5 thousand to 60 thousand in two years represents a growth of over 17 times. On paper, this seems ambitious, but in practice it depends on the dealer network and price, details of which remain undisclosed for now.
To produce 300 thousand cars by 2029, six facilities like the one in Bahovitsa will be needed.
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