Ukraine’s Bogdan to Add Great Wall Assembly

VIENNA – China auto maker Great Wall Motor and Ukrainian vehicle-maker Bogdan agree to assemble Chinese vehicles at Bogdan’s plant in Cherkassy, Ukraine.

While other vehicles assembled by Bogdan are made from complete-knocked-down kits, the Great Wall project will start with semi-knocked-down assembly in the first stage.

Both partners plan to switch to CKD assembly and localization of parts in the future.

The first Great Wall vehicle to be assembled will be the Haval H3 SUV. Bogdan plans to build close to 500 units by the end of the year. Other models will be added in 2014.

While no additional models have been announced, plans published earlier called for the assembly of the Great Wall Voleex C30 compact sedan, Voleex C50 sedan and Haval M4 SUV.

Capacity utilization at the Bogdan plant is low, and the two Chinese brands will help improve the situation.

The deal with Bogdan is not the first time Great Wall vehicles have been built in Ukraine. Kremenchug-based KrASZ assembled 1,152 Chinese units from SKD kits in 2007 and 2008.