BMW Group R&D Chief Puster Visits Great Wall Motor, Deepens Spotlight Automotive Partnership and Tests New Models

On April 3, IT Home learned from official sources that on March 31, 2026, Dr. Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW Group responsible for Development, led a delegation to visit Great Wall Motor (GWM). The visit focused on in-depth discussions regarding the progress of their joint venture, Spotlight Automotive, and future collaboration directions. GWM Chairman Wei Jianjun, Chief Supply Chain Officer Zhao Guoqing, and relevant department heads accompanied the delegation throughout the visit. During the visit, Dr. Post and his team first toured GWM’s manufacturing facility in Xushui, where they received detailed briefings on vehicle platforms, technology applications, and intelligent manufacturing. Subsequently, the delegation proceeded to the Xushui test track, where they experienced test drives and rides in multiple models—either under development or already in production—including the WEY V9X, TANK 700, TANK 500, POER 9, and ORA 5—across various challenging road conditions such as dynamic handling courses, test hills, and rough terrain. GWM engineers provided comprehensive explanations on key technical aspects including powertrain performance, chassis tuning, all-wheel-drive system capabilities, and vehicle adaptability in complex environments, engaging in extensive technical discussions with the BMW team. Following the site visits, both parties held a dedicated meeting at GWM’s Technology Center, focusing on the current status of the Spotlight Automotive project and upcoming technical cooperation topics. In the afternoon, Dr. Post held high-level talks with Chairman Wei Jianjun, exchanging views on trends in China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market, strategic collaboration directions, and other significant matters. That evening, both teams shared a working dinner to further strengthen their partnership. It is reported that GWM and BMW Group initiated their collaboration in 2018. That year, under the joint witness of Chinese and German leaders, the two companies signed an agreement in Berlin, Germany, establishing Spotlight Automotive Limited as a 50:50 joint venture. This project marked BMW Group’s first global pure-electric vehicle joint venture and represented a critical step for GWM in accelerating its NEV strategy and international expansion. GWM stated that since the launch of the collaboration, the Spotlight Automotive project has progressed steadily, successfully completing factory construction and achieving mass production of its first model, marking significant milestone achievements. Dr. Post’s visit has not only deepened mutual understanding and trust at the technical level but also laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation in electrification, intelligent technologies, and supply chain synergy. Both sides agreed to continue adhering to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, actively exploring additional collaboration opportunities to jointly drive high-quality development.