Eindhoven, October 18, 2024
Great Wall Motor (GWM), one of China’s most influential car manufacturers, continues to make significant strides in expanding its global market presence.
Record Overseas Sales Results for September and YTD 2024
In September 2024, GWM sold 108,400 new cars worldwide, representing a year-on-year increase of 15%. Overseas sales during this period reached a new high of 44,100 units, accounting for 40% of vehicles sold outside the domestic market — a new all-time record.
From January to September 2024, cumulative overseas sales surged to 324,244 units, marking a remarkable year-on-year increase of 53%. With this outstanding achievement, GWM has already surpassed its total overseas sales for 2023 after just three quarters of 2024, underscoring steady progress in its long-term commitment to internationalization.
Europe Remains a Key Strategic Market
Strategically, Europe has always been one of GWM’s most important overseas markets. However, recent uncertainties in the European market prompted GWM to reassess its regional setup, leading to the closure of its European head-office and entity in Munich (Germany) earlier this year, while fully maintaining existing sales and service operations through its distributors in Germany and various other European markets.
After readjusting its strategic approach to future penetration of the European region, GWM has now assigned Great Wall Motor Netherlands Sales B.V. (GWM NL) to oversee all business operations in the region. This approach underscores GWM’s continued commitment to Europe and its confidence in achieving sustainable, strategic growth in this challenging marketplace.
Centralization of GWM’s European Operations in the Netherlands
Thanks to the Netherlands’ international profile, GWM NL is ideally positioned to serve as a steering hub for all European business operations and meet the special demands of the European market.
Experienced multinational teams will focus on further developing GWM’s European business strategy, product portfolio, and regional expansion plans while streamlining operations and enhancing logistics. Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening and expanding relationships with European distribution partners and suppliers to drive sustainable growth in the region.
In parallel, GWM’s newly commissioned parts warehouse in Amsterdam, located near major seaports and airports, commenced operations in Q3 2024. The new facility is a testament to GWM’s commitment to maximizing user satisfaction, effectively enhancing overall service quality by ensuring improved availability and faster distribution of spare parts in close cooperation with our partners’ extensive service networks.
Looking Ahead
Great Wall Motor is excited about the positive momentum that this new setup will bring, paving the way for it to become an established player in the European automotive market.
A significant step in this journey will occur in 2025 when additional ICE and HEV powertrains for the GWM WEY 03 will complement the current PHEV offering. These new variants will appeal to a broader target audience and increase GWM’s sales volume potential, particularly in Europe’s largest car market, Germany.
All other models from the GWM ORA and GWM WEY portfolio will continue to be available to customers, effectively positioning GWM in Europe as a provider of vehicles with a wide range of powertrains, including ICE, HEV, PHEV, and BEV.
Further information on GWM’s European plans for 2025 and beyond will be released in the coming months.
About Great Wall Motor in Europe
GWM entered the European market in 2022 with its product lines GWM ORA and GWM WEY, covering nine markets, including Germany, the UK, and Sweden. Its product portfolio currently includes four models under the GWM brand: ORA 03 and ORA 07 (both BEV) and WEY 03 and WEY 05 (both PHEV SUVs).
In 2023 and the first half of 2024, GWM achieved the second-highest new car registration result among all new Chinese car brands in Germany and the third-highest in the UK (Source: JATO).