Great Wall Motors to be first Chinese auto brand in NZ

Great Wall Motors is set to become the first Chinese car brand available in New Zealand, with a national dealer network due to be confirmed in time for an October launch on both sides of the Tasman.

Likely to be known in Australia and New Zealand as GWM, Great Wall Motors is China's largest privately-owned vehicle maker.

It already exports to about 60 countries in Asia, Europe and South America, and is planning to open production facilities in Russia as well as China.

The first model offered here will be a 2.3-litre double-cab utility which, with a price tag of under $20,000, will undercut rival products by thousands of dollars.

The GWM double cab ute will be just the start, says Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd managing director Ric Hull.

The ute will be followed soon after by a single-cab ute, a compact SUV and an entry-level light car.

Pricing will be comparable to similar Korean models but with a significantly higher specification.

Rather than using names for its various models, which in China include vehicles called the Safe, Sailor and Wingle, GWM is expected to adopt an alpha-numeric system for its Australia and New Zealand line-up.

GWM vehicles will be imported by Ateco Automotive, which already handles brands here, including Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ferrari, and Citroen.

Announcing its intention to bring Great Wall Motors vehicles to New Zealand this year, Ateco also confirmed it is pressing on with previously revealed plans to introduce the Chinese Chery brand in 2009.

A network of five or six GWM dealers is planned for New Zealand.