The Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM) has announced its second factory in Brazil, located in the state of Espírito Santo. The company, which began domestic production in August 2025 following the acquisition of a former Mercedes-Benz plant in Iracemápolis (SP) continues its rapid expansion in Latin America with a strong focus on hybrid and electric vehicles.

The new facility will be built in the small town of Aracruz, located 80 km from Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo in the south-west of Brazil. While the brand has not disclosed the total investment amount for the state nor the full lineup of models to be produced, there is confirmation of at least one vehicle: the Ora 5 electric SUV, launched last month.

GWM Ora 5 Brazil
GWM Ora 5

Spanning an area of 1.7 million square meters, the new industrial complex is slated to produce combustion engine vehicles, hybrids, and fully electric cars. This new venture is part of the R$ 10 billion investment plan the brand has earmarked for Brazil over 10 years (until 2032) and is expected to generate 9,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The chosen location is highly strategic, situated in one of the country’s major logistics and port hubs. It is home to Brazil’s first privately-funded Export Processing Zone (ZPE), inaugurated in July 2023, and sits just 20 km from the Port of Aracruz complex. This positioning will provide GWM with highly competitive conditions to export to major Latin American markets, including Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico.

Illustrated logistics map showing the proposed export route for GWM vehicles from the company's factory in Aracruz, Espírito Santo, Brazil, to Portocel (Port of Barra do Riacho), followed by maritime shipping routes to major Latin American markets. The infographic includes a local road connection between the factory and the port, then sea routes to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, with destination markers, shipping lanes, and a logistics flow diagram.
Proposed GWM export logistics network from Aracruz, Brazil. Vehicles produced at the Aracruz plant would be transported by road to Portocel in Barra do Riacho before being shipped to key markets across Mercosur and Latin America, including Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico.

The company also disclosed that the new factory will feature an unprecedented operational model in the country by adopting a “multi-energy” concept. This will enable the assembly of electric, hybrid, and conventional combustion engine models, including “flex” vehicles designed to run on both gasoline and ethanol, all utilizing the same production base and assembly line.

iangjun Meng, CPO of GWM, alongside the Governor of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço, at the launch of the brand’s factory in Aracruz (ES). — Photo: Government of Espírito Santo.
iangjun Meng, CPO of GWM, alongside the Governor of Espírito Santo, Ricardo Ferraço, at the launch of the brand’s factory in Aracruz (ES). — Photo: Government of Espírito Santo.

The Chinese Expansion in the Brazilian Auto Market

Chinese brands are investing heavily in the South American market, with Brazil acting as the central hub for their operations. BYD has been the main player; after arriving in Brazil in 2015 to sell solar panels, electric buses, and trucks, it expanded into the passenger car market in 2022. By the first quarter of 2026, it is already the 4th best-selling brand, with nearly 100,000 cars sold, surpassing traditional giants like Hyundai and Toyota.

Great Wall Motors is not falling behind. Operating with a strategy based on local production and a diverse portfolio under brands like HAVAL and ORA, GWM recently achieved 10th place in national sales in 2026.

GWM HAVAL H9 Brazil
GWM HAVAL H9

The weight of GWM

As the largest 100% privately owned Chinese automotive company, GWM is the world’s third-largest manufacturer of mid-size pickup trucks. It has led this segment in China for 27 years, maintaining a market share of over 50%. The company has a global presence spanning more than 150 countries and regions, employing 80,000 people and operating 13 Research and Development (R&D) centers across four countries.