Chinese automaker announces US$1.96 billion investment in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Great Wall Motor (GWM), the largest Chinese carmaker with 100% private capital, announced today, March 16, an investment of R$10 billion (US$1.96 billion) until 2032 in Brazil, being R$4 billion until 2025.

The company’s plant in Brazil, which previously belonged to Mercedes-Benz, is located in Iracemápolis in São Paulo State and will produce electric vehicles, such as SUVs and pickups. The forecast is to reach an installed capacity of 100,000 cars per year.

“Electromobility is an irreversible and inevitable phenomenon. Our Iracemápolis plant will be the first plant outside the United States, on the American continent, producing hybrid and pure electric electrified vehicles,” announced Pedro Bentancourt, CEO of the company. “We also expect our hybrid vehicles to be flex hybrids, able to be fueled with ethanol,” he added.

According to the state and city governments, the company may generate 2,000 direct jobs by 2025. “This announcement of R$10 billion [in investment] from China’s largest vehicle assembler 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 São Paulo State Governor João Doria.

Pedro Bentancourt informed that the production could also generate 200 or 300 indirect jobs in maintenance services and 500 indirect jobs in systematists. According to the executive, the company also expects to obtain a nationalization index of 50% of its products by 2025 or 2026.

RECHARGING POINTS

GWM also announced the implementation of 100 recharging points for electric and hybrid vehicles in cities of the state of São Paulo. According to the state government, GWM’s future charging network will be powered mainly by installing photovoltaic plates.

The recharging equipment will be mounted at GWM’s sales and service points, where charging will be free and available for electrified vehicles of any model or manufacturer. Charging stations will also be installed in commercial establishments with a large circulation, such as parking lots, shopping malls, and supermarkets.

With information from Agência Brasil

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