Gasgoo.com (Shanghai June 5) - First-phase engineering work at Great Wall's new automobile production site in Xushui, Hebei has officially been completed, the Beijing Evening News reported today. The site, which is designed to possess preliminary and final annual production capacities of 250,000 vehicles and one million vehicles, has now entered the test production phase. Future manufacture of the Haval H7 and H8 SUVs is to be conducted at the site.
In a statement made at Great Wall's Third Science and Technology Convention, company founder and General Manager Wei Jianjun stated that the manufacturer maintains a cautious attitude regarding projects to expand its production volume. "Great Wall… will not blindly to seek to achieve high production capacity," Mr. Wei stated, despite the fact that it is now one of the country's top performing own brand manufacturers.
At the convention, Great Wall announced 14 new technologies in powertrain systems, new energy drive systems, materials, chassis design and interior accessory design. The new Haval H8 (pictured), which is scheduled to make its market debut in late October, will be equipped with many of these technologies. The H8, which is powered by the new independently-developed GW4C20 direct injection engine producing up to 160 kW and 324 Nm of torque and mated to a six-speed manumatic transmission, will directly rival the Audi Q5. The new hybrid-powered H7 will also make its initial debut at that time. The H7, which is driven by a nine-speed manumatic transmission, can be driven for up to 53 km and reach a top speed of 105 km/h in pure electric mode. It is scheduled to make its official market debut in 2015.
In response to queries for setting up a new joint venture, Mr. Wei remarked that Great Wall had not yet found an appropriate opportunity and has no desire to establish a JV at the moment. He added that the manufacturer is committed to strengthening its independent development ability, with its current R&D staff of 7,000 employees to exceed over 10,000 employees in the future. Great Wall also has plans to invest five billion yuan ($809.32m) to establish a new technology center. The center is expected to begin operation at the end of next year.
