KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a bold show of confidence for Jamaica’s automotive industry despite recent economic headwinds from Hurricane Melissa, Stewart’s Automotive Group has inaugurated a new $7 million flagship showroom for Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) along Kingston’s South Camp Road.
Named the Diana Stewart Building in an official dedication, the 9,000-square-foot facility opened its doors to operations on June 3. Designed as GWM’s core retail hub across Jamaica, the modern space is outfitted to display up to eight vehicles at a time, headlined by the brand’s newly launched premium off-road SUV lineup: the Tank 400 and Tank 700. The grand opening ceremony drew more than 500 invited guests, where both Tank models were formally unveiled to the Jamaican public as GWM positions itself to capture a larger share of the country’s fast-growing premium SUV segment. As a unique community touch, the showroom also hosts a permanent site-specific art installation created by students from local Genesis Academy, which draws creative inspiration from GWM’s popular Tank vehicle line.
Jacqueline Stewart-Lechler, managing director of Stewart’s Automotive Group, framed the seven-figure investment as far more than a simple expansion of physical infrastructure. “Tonight marks far more than the opening of a new space, it represents confidence in our market, belief in our people, and a clear vision of the road ahead of Jamaica’s automotive industry,” she stated at the ceremony. Beyond boosting the local automotive retail landscape, the new facility is already projected to deliver tangible economic benefits for the country. It currently employs approximately 40 local workers, with built-in capacity to add more roles as customer demand rises. Stewart-Lechler projected that the operation will contribute a minimum of $400 million in combined tax and General Consumption Tax revenues to the Jamaican government by 2027.
Aubyn Hill, Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, echoed Stewart-Lechler’s optimism, noting that the partnership between the local automotive group and global brand GWM represents a critical endorsement of Jamaica’s standing as an attractive destination for international investment. “When a global brand like Great Wall Motor, one of China’s leading privately owned automotive manufacturers operating in more than 170 countries and regions, chooses to establish a permanent purpose-built presence in Jamaica, it is a clear vote of confidence in Jamaica’s economy,” Hill said.
The Kingston showroom launch aligns with GWM’s broader strategic push to expand its footprint across the Caribbean region. Hankin Zhao, general manager of GWM International, shared that the company has surpassed 1,500 vehicle sales in Jamaica since it first entered the market in 2021. Beyond local growth, the Jamaican operation has served as a strategic regional hub for the brand, enabling GWM to extend its reach into 13 additional Caribbean markets including Barbados and the Cayman Islands. Zhao emphasized GWM’s long-term approach to market expansion, prioritizing product reliability over rapid short-term growth: “At GWM, quality is our first thing. We are providing a reliable and safe product rather than a faster sale.”
The expansion comes as the local automotive sector navigates post-hurricane recovery, with industry stakeholders framing the new investment as a key milestone in strengthening Jamaica’s economic resilience and positioning the country as a leading automotive market in the Caribbean.