The automaker shipped 343 units this month, said a company spokesman. This is the first time the company has exported diesel -powered vehicles to Europe.

The pickup's 2.0-liter diesel engine, fitted with Robert Bosch GmbH's common-rail diesel fuel injection system and variable geometry turbo-compressor, can meet Euro 5 emission standards, according to the spokesman.

Great Wall will ship another 1,657 diesel Wingles and 300 gasoline-powered Wingles to Italy this year.

The European Union certified the gasoline-powered Wingle in 2009 and the diesel-powered Wingle in 2010.

Great Wall began exporting the gasoline Wingle to Italy in 2006. The company also exports the gasoline pickup to Iraq, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Algeria, Syria, Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia.