Great Wall Motor（长城汽车）, known as GWM, announced on October 27 that it plans to begin assembling the Ora 5 compact SUV in Bulgaria in the first quarter of 2027 under an agreement with local partner Bulgarian Automotive Industry.
According to Reuters, the project has planned annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles. Production will start with the electric version, with other powertrains and models intended to follow. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Chief Technology Officer Nicole Wu said production would initially use semi-knocked-down assembly, with some parts sourced locally from the outset. The partner operates a facility in Bahovitsa, near Lovech, which has previously assembled GWM vehicles.
The agreement would add manufacturing to GWM’s European activities. It remains a production plan: the capacity figure does not represent current output, and the extent of local sourcing has not been disclosed.
For Chinese automakers, partner-operated assembly offers a route into European manufacturing using an existing site. Its commercial value will depend on production costs, supplier coordination and sustained demand. Local assembly also requires careful assessment of customs and origin requirements; it should not automatically be treated as eliminating all duties on China-sourced vehicles or components.
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