Humiliated in 2007 by disastrous crash tests, Chinese automakers are trying their luck again in Europe. This time with more efficient models, they begin to produce locally. Great Wall, a major Chinese groups, inaugurated on Tuesday its first plant in Bulgaria on the Old Continent. Initially, it plans to sell its cars in Bulgaria and in neighboring countries. This will be the city Voleex and C10 pickup Steed 5, whose prices range from 8,200 to 12,800 euros. The site starts with 150 workers, which can produce 4,000 cars a year by assembling parts imported from China. Great Wall plans to go up to 50,000 vehicles per year and 2,000 workers. "We estimate that in three to five years, we have a variety of models produced here, and that these cars will be sold in all European countries", at "reasonable prices", said Wang Feng Ying, president of the group . The site could produce seven different models.
Great Wall is not the only Chinese to have set foot in Europe. In Italy, the former Fiat factory Sicilian was sold to Italian DR Motor, which assemble under its brand Chery models from kits imported from China. Chery also preparing, with the company Israel Corp.. the launch of a brand, Qoros, produced in China, but mainly for Europe. Goal: 150,000 sales per year in 2015-2016. In addition, SAIC, which acquired the brand MG Rover MG6 the product in the UK. As for Geely, which owns Volvo, he launched this year in Britain's E67 sedan, which, like the MG6, won 4 out of 5 stars in European crash tests.
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