Great Wall Motors signs MoU with Maharashtra government

• GWM to invest $1 billion (about Rs 7,604 crore) in India in a phased manner
• Automaker will take over and modernise GM’s Talegaon plant
• Market debut planned for 2021 with Haval and GWM EV brands

China’s Great Wall Motors (GWM) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government. The MoU formalises GWM’s investment in Talegaon for a manufacturing facility. As announced in January, GWM will take over and revamp General Motors’ existing plant in Talegaon.

How much does GWM plan to invest in India?

At the 2020 Auto Expo, GWM had revealed its plans of investing $1 billion (approximately Rs 7,604 crore) into its India operations in a phased manner across different verticals, including R&D, and vehicle and component manufacturing. The latest announcement reaffirms those commitments. The investments, the carmaker says, will help in the creation of around 3,000 direct employment opportunities.

GWM’s India plans have started taking shape. Only last month, the Chinese carmaker announced the appointment of senior management for its Indian subsidiary.

What plans does GWM have for the Talegaon facility?

Under GM, the Talegaon plant had a production capacity of 1,30,000 vehicles per annum. GWM says that the plant will be revamped and equipped with “state-of-the-art” and “world-class” technology. In a statement, Parker Shi, managing director, GWM India, said, “This would be a highly automated plant in Talegaon, with advanced robotics technology integrated in many of the production processes.”

The factory spans an area of 300 acres and is situated about 45km away from Pune and about 100km away from the Mumbai port.

Which products does GWM plan to launch in India, and when?

GWM primarily owns four brands – GWM EV (for electric vehicles), Haval and Wey (for SUVs) and GWM Pickup (for pickup trucks). Though the conglomerate hasn’t announced the models it intends to bring to our market, the company did reveal at the Auto Expo that it will be debuting the Haval and GWM EV brands in India in 2021.

In an effort to showcase its portfolio, the company displayed a vast range of products at the 2020 motor show in Delhi NCR, including the Haval F5, F7, F7x and H9 SUVs, electric models like the R1 and iQ, and two concept vehicles – the Concept H and Vision 2025.