GWM Closes Head Office In Germany, Expansion To Several European Countries Canceled

GWM Ora 07. (Doc. Great Wall Motor)

JAKARTA - Shocking news came from the Chinese automotive manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM). It is reported that GWM will close its headquarters in Europe, precisely in Munich, Germany.

According to Carscoops, Thursday, May 30, the brand will lay off all staff including management. Thus, the plan to expand GWM to various countries on the blue continent has been canceled.

The head office will be closed by the end of August with 100 employees going to be dismissed. The same source stated that employees and partner companies had been notified.

The move to close this head office had to be taken because the manufacturer saw its sales in Europe last long. Last year, GWM posted sales of 316,018 units in foreign markets in China, including 6,300 units of which were Europe.

Furthermore, the manufacturer, which was founded in 1984, postponed the target of selling 1 million vehicles outside China from 2025 to 2030 due to uncertain market conditions.

Despite this, GWM has issued a statement about its commitment to the European market and recognizes the need for adjustments in the midst of a volatile market.

At the end of 2023, the manufacturer announced the merger of the brands Ora and Wey. At that time, they planned to expand their markets to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, and Bulgaria. However, because of this bad news, the plan was cancelled.

With the closure of a head office in Germany, all management activities will move to the head office in Baoding, China.

GWM currently sells several products in Europe, including Ora 03 or Oraranky Cat and Wey 03 and 05. It is likely that the manufacturer will launch a Porsche Panamera-style electric car, Ora 07 on the blue continent this summer.