The joint venture will start operation before the end of this year and will produce up to 10,000 vehicles a year, a Great Wall spokesman told Automotive News China.  

The new venture will assemble Great Wall's Hover SUV and Wingle pickup.  

A private Chinese company, Great Wall runs joint-venture assembly plants with local partners in Russia, Indonesia, Iran, Vietnam and Egypt.  

Headquartered in Manila, Statemotor is a vehicle distributor. Statemotor already distributes Great Wall SUVs and pickups imported from China. 

Statemotor also distributes vehicles for two other Chinese companies, mini commercial vehicle maker SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co. and bus manufacturer Zhong Tong Bus Holding Co. 

In the first half of this year, Great Wall sold more than 170,000 vehicles, up nearly 88 percent year-on-year. Of that total, about 30,000 units were exports, according to Great Wall's Web site.