Great Wall Motor to expand to 8 additional countries in Europe and establish local R&D center
After beginning sales in Europe last year, Chinese EV automaker Great Wall Motor appears poised to expand its reach across the continent to at least eight additional countries. Furthermore, the automaker intends to establish a new European R&D center as it ponders bringing EV production over from China as well.
Great Wall Motor (GWM) has held reigns as the largest manufacturer of SUVs and pickups in China since its founding in the mid-80s but has been transitioning to EVs in recent years, becoming one of the largest plug-in EV manufacturers in the country as well.
To date, GWM has expanded its footprint beyond the Chinese market, but not too many EVs have become available in foreign markets, especially not in the EU. In 2021, however, Great Wall shared initial plans to begin selling EVs in Europe.
That journey began in Germany with the Good Cat EV, built by Great Wall’s brand Ora, which was rebranded as the Funky Cat for the EU. Since then, Great Wall Motor has recruited the help of Emil Frey – Europe’s largest car dealer group – to help distribute vehicles under its Ora and Wey marques.
With EV sales underway in both Germany and the UK, Great Wall Motor is now reportedly expanding much deeper into Europe.
Great Wall Motor to quadruple its presence in Europe
According to local Chinese media outlet Sina Tech, Great Wall Motor intends to expand to these eight additional countries in Europe: Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.
The news comes at an interesting time as the EU is currently in the process of an anti-subsidy investigation against Chinese EV automakers looking to enter new markets in the territory. In mid-October, Great Wall submitted response materials to the EU investigation committee, claiming to be the first to do so. At the time, Great Wall’s president, Mu Feng, said the following:
It will be bumpy for Chinese cars to go overseas, but we are unswerving and accelerating the pace of going overseas.
As such, Great Wall Motor has proceeded in vetting potential sites in Europe to establish local R&D and potentially more. Rather than face further scrutiny from the EU for importing its EVs, Great Wall Motor appears interested in taking the resource- and cost-heavy route of long-term production development in Europe – further hardening its dedication to the new markets mentioned above.
During the Overseas Dealers Conference in 2022, Great Wall Motors shared that its global brand strategy would focus on its namesake GWM umbrella – which broke down its five major auto marques into various development paths in Europe based on categories to deliver different EVs and energy products to their ideal markets overseas.
Sina’s report states that Great Wall Motor has already established agreements with local partners in Ireland and Sweden, in addition to Germany and the UK, with other markets already in the works. Meanwhile, the automaker continues to vet locations for its planned EU footprints, beginning the aforementioned R&D center.
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Tesla is going to build a new Megafactory in Texas near Houston, according to a tax abatement agreement with Waller County.
At the time of writing, Tesla had yet to comment on the new project, but the Waller County Commissioners Court confirmed the project on Wednesday when they approved a tax abatement deal with the company:
Under the proposed agreement, Tesla will receive tax abatements from Waller County based on property improvements. The deal includes $44 million in facility improvements and $150 million in Tesla manufacturing equipment that Tesla will install. The next phase involves a new $31 million distribution facility with about $2 million in Tesla distribution equipment and building upgrades.
Tesla is going to take over a 1-million-sq-ft building that it already held the lease on at the Empire West industrial park near Katy, Texas – just outside of Houston.
Logistics company DB Schenker occupied the space where it handled parts for Tesla, but it will move out and Tesla plans to build Megapack production lines at the site:
Tesla will operate a new Megapack battery storage manufacturing facility at a 1 million-square-foot building, which was initially constructed with no tenant on speculation that it would attract jobs and economic development.
Tesla has previously referred to plants producing Megapacks as “Megafactory”. The company already operates one in Lathrop, California, and one in Shanghai, China, where it just started production.
Those factories are set up for a production capacity of 40 GWh worth of Megapacks per year.
It’s not clear if Tesla plans for a similar capacity at this new factory, but the county announced project should result in creating 1,500 jobs.
In addition to the existing building, the project will include the construction of an additional “600,000-square-foot distribution facility with some manufacturing capabilities.”
Unlike its automotive business, Tesla’s energy business has been growing at an impressive pace – although prices and margins have come down last year.
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![Is Genesis taking notes from Porsche? New GV60 Magma caught with the Taycan [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Genesis-GV60-Magma-Porsche-2.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Genesis is gearing up to unleash its alter ego with its upcoming Magma lineup, its debut into the world of high-performance luxury vehicles. First up is the Genesis GV60 Magma, due out later this year. As testing wraps up, the GV60 Magma was spotted alongside none other than the Porsche Taycan.
The first dedicated Genesis EV model, the GV60, will kick off another new chapter for the Korean luxury automaker.
Genesis unveiled the GV60 Magma last March, claiming it will kick off “the brand’s expansion into the realm of high-performance vehicles.” The performance EV includes an improved battery, chassis, and motor for added performance.
The Magma model boasts a wider, lower stance for more control. Other key upgrades include a wider front air intake to help cool the batteries, motor, and brakes. It also includes air curtains to maximize efficiency and an added roof fin channels air to the rear wing, generating downward force.
Genesis upgraded the interior to match the GV60 Magma’s luxurious, sporty design. It includes unique sports car-like bucket seats with exclusive “double-diamond stitching” in the Magma orange and titanium coloring.
Genesis GV60 Magma spotted with the Porsche Taycan
With its official debut coming up, the sporty Genesis GV60 Magma was spotted testing alongside a Porsche Taycan and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 N models.
Despite the camouflage, the video from CarSpyMedia reveals a few new design elements, like the two-line headlight featured on the updated GV60 model.
Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma later this year in its home market, followed by the US, Europe, and others. Production is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2025.
Will the Genesis GV60 Magma keep up with the Porsche Taycan or Tesla Model S Plaid? Priced and specs will be revealed closer to launch, but it will sit above the Performance AWD trim, which starts at $69,900 in the US. With up to 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, it can hit 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds.
| Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph (seconds) |
Starting Price | |
| Genesis GV60 Performance | 429 | 3.7 | $69,900 |
| Genesis GV60 Magma | ? | ? | ? |
| Porsche Taycan | 402 | 4.5 | $99,400 |
| Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (with Weissach Package) |
1,092 | 2.1 | $230,000 |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | 1,020 | 1.99 | $89,990 |
In comparison, the Porsche Taycan starts at $99,400 with up to 402 hp and a 0 to 60 mph time in 4.5 seconds. The Taycan Turbo GT, equipped with its Weissach package, packs 1,092 hp for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 2.1 seconds, but it costs $230,000.
Tesla’s Model S Plaid starts at $79,990 and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds with 1,020 horsepower. Which performance EV are you choosing?
Source: CarSpyMedia
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