Chinese truck and SUV manufacturer Great Wall has announced that it will begin selling its vehicles in Mexico. The news comes following a visit to the company’s tech center and production site in Hebei, by Mexico’s ambassador to China, Jesus Seade.
Great Wall Motors (GWM) was established in 1984 and has since become China’s largest producer of pickups, as well as being a strong player in the SUV segment selling under the Haval name.
Outside of China, the company has dealerships in Australia, South Africa, and selected European and Asian nations. From January to July, GWM sold 641,744 vehicles globally — an increase of 1.8 percent from 2022.
Related: New Haval H5 Full-Size SUV Starts From $17k In China
The move into Mexico comes following dealership applications that began in February. Automotive News reports that Great Wall considers Mexico as one of its “core markets” and will expedite the creation of a dealership network in the North American country. GWM is also building a distribution network and will eventually decide on what models to offer.
Great Wall has also been rumored to be eyeing a plant in Mexico, with the company previously expressing its interest to expand into North American production. In 2022, it purchased a factory in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the capacity to produce 100,000 vehicles when it reopens later this year. The Chinese automaker also manufactures pickups in Russia and Thailand.
Great Wall is one of a growing number of Chinese automakers establishing a presence in Mexico. In fact, the country makes up the largest percentage of Chinese auto exports.
Last month, Omoda, the latest Chery brand that was inaugurated in 2022, expanded its lineup in Mexico with the addition of the O5 GT, joining the regular O5 sedan and the C5 SUV. Meanwhile, the Mexican versions of the Dodge Journey and Chevrolet Aveo are two examples of Chinese domestic offerings that have been rebadged for sale south of the border.
