China’s Great Wall Motor to shift some India investment to Brazil after approval delays

Great Wall Motor has decided to re-allocate to Brazil a portion of its $1billion investment in India, as the Chinese automaker has been unnerved by a year-long delay in winning government approvals, three sources told Reuters.

The re-allocation, which could range up to $300 million, comes as the sources said the maker of popular sport-utility vehicles and pick-ups was close to acquiring a former Daimler plant in Brazil to build cars.

Great Wall has also tasked James Yang, its India president since last year, with the responsibility of assisting with operations in the Latin American nation, said the sources, who have direct knowledge of the matter.

"Brazil is almost a done deal and it did not make sense to keep the funds blocked for India," said one of the sources, explaining the rationale for the change of focus.

Great Wall's move is a fallout of India's decision in April 2020 to more closely scrutinise investments from China, the sources said, as part of a crackdown that followed a border clash between the two Asian giants.

Just two months before, at India's biennial car show, Great Wall had said it would invest $1 billion to build cars there, by buying a former General Motors (GM) factory, as well as making batteries and car parts.

Two of the sources said the re-allocated funds, budgeted by Great Wall for India since 2020, would mainly have been used to buy GM's factory, a cost that sources had earlier put at about $300 million.

Great Wall declined to comment. The Indian government did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

The step highlights growing nervousness among Chinese investors, who have seen roughly 150 investment proposals worth more than $2 bn held up for approvals, according to industry estimates.

The delays are forcing Great Wall, which was expected to begin selling its India-made Haval brand of SUVs in the country this year, to look at taking a more measured approach.