Chinese car maker Dongfeng has opened its first sales and technical centre in Slovenia. Located in Kamnik pod Krimom, some 10 kilometres south of Ljubljana, the new centre is operated by importer Plan-net Avto.

At the inauguration ceremony on 23 October, the partners introduced four new electric and three new petrol models.

Addressing the event, Chinese Ambassador Wang Shunqing noted that Slovenia is interested in cooperation with Chinese EV manufacturers, and he thanked the country for voting against higher EU tariffs on Chinese EV imports.

Having entered Slovenia's market only a year ago, Dongfeng expects to sell some 800 cars this year, but then a doubling or even a tripling in sales is expected over the course of the next five years, Xie Qian, general manager of Dongfeng EU regional headquarters, told Chinese news agency Xinhua.

Jernej Salecl, director general of the Directorate for Industry, Business and Internationalisation at the Ministry of Economy, said Chinese investments were very welcome in Slovenia.

Plan-net Avto is the largest importer of EVs from China in Slovenia. Its CEO Marko Femc said China was leading the way in EV development and other countries should partner with it in the sector.

Before the opening, Femc told the Avtomobilnost car show on public broadcaster TV Slovenija that the only way forward was for China to move a part of its production capacities to Europe.

"Whether it will be 30%, 50% or 70% of its Europe sales is a matter of political agreement," he said. He hopes Slovenia will be able to take this opportunity, but is worried about long zoning procedures and about apparent reserve toward Chinese businesses.

According to the news portal Siol, Chinese brands hold a growing share of the Slovenian automotive market. A decade ago they were virtually unknown to Slovenian motorists, but now three brands, MG, Geely and Forthing, are among the 30 top-selling makes in Slovenia.

Chinese-made cars are sold by over 30 dealers in Slovenia.

Siol also reported that a ship with the first large shipment of Dongfeng cars will dock at the Koper port next month.