Erbil to Host Kurdistan Region’s Second Automobile Manufacturing Plant

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Chinese Jetour and Harlem companies have proposed establishing a new automobile manufacturing plant in Erbil, marking a potential expansion of the Kurdistan Region’s automotive industry following the establishment of a similar project in Zakho.

According to a statement released by the Kurdistan Region Board of Investment on Thursday, representatives of the two companies met with Board Chairman Mohammed Shukri in Erbil to present their proposal for the new facility.

The project’s initial phase would focus on assembling vehicles and installing parts, with the companies expected to submit a detailed proposal to the Investment Board to facilitate the necessary procedures.

Shukri welcomed the proposal and reaffirmed the board’s readiness to provide the necessary support and facilitation for the project’s implementation. He urged the companies to submit their detailed plans as soon as possible.

The proposed plant aims to facilitate technology transfer, create employment opportunities, and support vocational training for local workers, contributing to the Kurdistan Region’s industrial development.

The proposal follows the launch of the Jetour KD project in Zakho, where Harlem Group and Jetour Auto signed a memorandum of understanding and laid the foundation stone for Motorplex. China’s acting consul general in the Kurdistan Region, Zhang Jianxin, described the initiative as a shift by Chinese automotive brands from importing and selling vehicles toward localized operations.

Zhang said the Zakho project would help transfer technology, develop local technical skills, and create jobs, while strengthening economic cooperation between China and the Kurdistan Region. Jetour operates under China’s Chery Group and has expanded its presence in the regional automotive market in recent years.