Great Wall to build 12 plants overseas
Great Wall Motor Co. says it plans to build 12 new CKD plants -- facilities that build cars from kits exported from China -- in overseas markets by 2015.
That would double the number of CKD plants operated by Great Wall in overseas markets.
The private Chinese company didn't disclose the location of the 12 new plant sites. But the company confirmed that it has signed letters of intent with local companies to build assembly plants in Italy, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Africa, Brazil, Thailand and Turkey.
Great Wall currently operates CKD plants in Russia, Indonesia, Iran, Vietnam, Egypt, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Senegal, Venezuela, the Philippines, Malaysia and Ethiopia.
"We estimate by 2015 that we'll have 24 overseas assembly plants with a combined annual output of 500,000 vehicles," the company said.
In 2010, Great Wall's global sales totaled 397,300 vehicles, up 77 percent from 2009. Last year, the company sold 55,000 units outside China.
