Bulgaria to build GWM Ora 5 electric cars

Bulgaria is preparing to resume automobile manufacturing, with the country aiming to become the European Union’s exclusive production hub for the future GWM Ora 5, an electric vehicle (EV) developed by China's Great Wall Motors (GWM).

The assembly line is expected to be located in Bahovitsa, near the city of Lovech, at a facility previously used to assemble the Great Wall Steed pickup truck and the Haval H6 SUV, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

According to automedia.investor.bg, production of the Ora 5 is scheduled to begin in November 2026. The project marks a renewed effort to restore vehicle manufacturing in Bulgaria after years without large-scale automotive assembly operations.

The GWM Ora 5 will be produced in several body styles, including hatchback, SUV and station wagon variants. Initially, only the fully electric version will be manufactured in Bulgaria, following the European Union's decision in 2024 to impose tariffs of up to 37.6% on electric vehicles imported from China.

The Chinese automaker is also considering expanding production at a later stage to include hybrid and internal combustion engine models, depending on market conditions and future regulatory decisions by the EU.

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