Chinese electric truck maker sets up European headquarters in Flanders

Chinese electric truck manufacturer Windrose is setting up its European headquarters and first workshop in Zele. The company is also planning to build an assembly plant for electric trucks in the port of Antwerp, potentially creating 3,000 jobs, De Tijd reports.

Windrose is a Chinese start-up that has developed a promising electric truck. It set up a Belgian company at the end of April, with CEO Wen Han providing it with limited start-up capital of 61,500 euros. Windrose now has its first subsidiary on European soil. The operational base, consisting of an office and workshop, will be set up on land owned by the transport company Gilbert De Clercq.

"This is the first phase of our strategic roadmap and lays the foundation for future expansion," said Han. The next phase is to move operations to an industrial site in the Antwerp port area, which will house the research and development activities and the assembly plant.

3,000 jobs

The plant would mainly assemble components for the electric trucks made in China. Wan plans to build around 10,000 electric trucks a year by 2027, with the factory and R&D centre creating around 3,000 jobs and representing an investment of 300 million euros.

Windrose says its electric truck can travel at least 670km with a full battery and trailer, making it competitive with traditional diesel trucks. In addition, Han promises to offer the e-trucks for around 230,000 euros - about half the price of electric trucks from European manufacturers.

Talks with the federal and Flemish governments about the plant are still ongoing. As a gesture of goodwill, the company became the main sponsor of Antwerp's basketball club in April, now called Windrose Giants Antwerp.

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