Norway is set to take a major step into automotive manufacturing with plans for a new car factory that will produce up to 110,000 electric vehicles annually. The project, backed by a so-far undisclosed Chinese automotive giant, marks a significant milestone for a country that has long been one of the world’s strongest EV markets—but without domestic car production.
The factory will be located in Viken Park in Fredrikstad, close to the Swedish border. The site has been carefully selected for its strategic position in the heart of the Nordic region, offering ideal logistics for supplying electric cars to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.
According to businessman Yun Jiang, vice chairman of the Chinese business association Coda, the location perfectly matches the intended market radius of the new electric car brand. Proximity to Sweden, in particular, is seen as a major advantage, simplifying cross-border transport and exports to neighboring countries.
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A phased investment with long-term ambitions
The first phase of the project involves an investment of approximately DKK 553 million (around EUR 74 million). Plans call for a 30,000-square-meter factory that is expected to be operational by 2028. Initially, the facility will focus on assembling vehicles from prefabricated modules, a production model that allows for faster ramp-up and lower initial complexity.
Once fully operational, the factory is expected to create around 300 new jobs in the local area. Over time, the ambition is to reach full production capacity of 110,000 electric vehicles per year, making it one of the most significant automotive manufacturing projects in modern Norwegian history.
Representatives of the Chinese investors and local business leaders have already met in Fredrikstad to finalize the remaining details of the project. The long-term vision extends beyond simple assembly, with expectations that the facility could expand its capabilities as volumes grow and the brand becomes established in the Nordic market.
Built for modern industry
GG Group, which owns Viken Park, has confirmed in a press release that the industrial area is specifically designed to support modern, large-scale manufacturing. The region offers strong infrastructure, efficient transport links, and access to skilled labor—factors that were decisive in securing the investment.
Local authorities and business organizations expect the factory to act as a catalyst for broader economic growth in the region, attracting suppliers, service companies, and additional investments tied to the electric mobility ecosystem.
A contrast to Denmark’s struggles
Norway’s rapid progress stands in sharp contrast to the situation in neighboring Denmark. Following the bankruptcy of Agile Automotive in 2025, Denmark’s automotive manufacturing sector has been left with only one active car producer: Zenvo.
Even Zenvo, the high-performance brand based in Præstø, faced serious challenges last year when accounting issues briefly pushed the company toward compulsory dissolution. As a result, large-scale car production in Denmark is currently a distant memory.
In fact, Denmark’s last significant era of automotive manufacturing dates back to the period between 1919 and 1966, when Ford produced nearly 400,000 vehicles at its factory in Copenhagen’s Sydhavn district. That chapter remains an important part of Danish industrial history and has been the focus of extensive academic research, including work by Professor Lars Kjølhede Christensen.
