GREAT WALL

10 entries

China’s pickup and SUV specialist, named after the Great Wall: from a small local-government firm to a listed carmaker.

Founded: 1984
Headquarters: Baoding, Hebei, China
Known for: SUVs and pickup trucks
Listed: Hong Kong, 2003

Great Wall Motor started in 1984 as a small manufacturer partly owned by a local government in Hebei. Wei Jianjun became its director in 1990 and built it into one of China’s leading pickup-truck makers. It was privatised in 1998 and went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2003.

The company sells vehicles under GWM, Haval, Wey, Tank, Poer and Ora, and since 2019 has run a joint venture with the BMW Group to build electric Minis in China.

1984Founded in Hebei
1990Wei Jianjun becomes director
1998Privatised
2003Listed in Hong Kong
2019Joint venture with BMW for electric Mini

GREAT WALL Great Wall Coolbear: Great Wall’s boxy small car
GREAT WALL Great Wall Safe: the 4Runner-based SUV that sold on price
GREAT WALL Great Wall Cowry: Great Wall’s seven-seat minivan
GREAT WALL Great Wall Sailor: the pickup before the Wingle
GREAT WALL Great Wall Voleex C30: the saloon that reached Europe
GREAT WALL Great Wall Wingle: from Wingle 3 to Wingle 7
GREAT WALL Great Wall Hover (Haval H3): the first Chinese car sold in Europe
GREAT WALL Great Wall Deer: the pickup that started Great Wall
GREAT WALL Great Wall Florid: the small hatchback and its Cross version
GREAT WALL Great Wall Peri: the city car Fiat took to court