2025 Haval H9 on the cards for Australia, too! Not one but TWO flagship off-road SUVs being weighed up for Australia as GWM moves to rival Toyota Prado and more

As part of a GWM new product blitz, the tough-looking Haval H9 large SUV has been revealed at the Beijing motor show, and the local GWM division confirms it is also on its radar for an Australian launch.

CarsGuide understands the H9 will stand as the ultimate Haval model, complete with seven seats and off-road capabilities, but will sit below the Tank 500 in terms of its drivetrain options and level of luxury.

It also means the H9 would need to sit between the current H6 range (which tops out at $45,990) and the Tank 500 (which starts at $66,490) for it to make sense for an Australian launch. It is arguable that a massive $20K gap between the two is plenty of breathing room for an additional model, particularly a large SUV like the H9.

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The two powertrain options available for the H9 include a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit, and a 2.4-litre diesel, the same as the current Cannon Alpha range with which it shares a platform.

While the diesel could be an intriguing point of difference for the H9, it seems more likely the petrol unit would be equipped if it were to stand a chance for an Australian launch, especially given the brand has indicated it is increasingly conscious of the potential impacts the new vehicle emissions standards (NVES) will have on its current and future line-up.

Speaking to Australian media at the Beijing motor show, the brand’s local communications boss, Steve Maciver explained, “Now that we’ve had Australians here in Baoding [GWM’s head office and R&D location] it’s safe to say we’re impressed with the product. We could have a second seven seater in our market, but obviously pricing is key to that.”

The H9 serves as the pinnacle of the Haval range, while the Tank 500 and 700 sit above it on the price-scale.

“There could be some price differential in that the Tank 500 has technology and features that the H9 doesn’t need. The Haval SUV strategy is to be capable, but not as capable as the Tank series,” he said.

In terms of drivetrains, Maciver agreed that the 2.4-litre diesel would offer the H9 a key point of difference from the Tank 500, but that the emissions scheme means a petrol engine would be more likely for our market. “Diesel would be a tough argument given everything that’s happening. We can weigh them up.”

“There’s no point bringing something in because we like the idea of it, the business case has to stack up.”

He added GWM has the capability to do a right-hand drive version of the H9 within 12 months should the business case be made, and head office agrees to it.

Right-hand drive versions of most Haval products can be produced quickly in Chinese plants if the business case stacks up.

The H9 is just one in a plethora of new vehicle options, revealed or confirmed at the Beijing show, GWM is weighing up for an Australian arrival. Elsewhere it will introduce updates to the Jolion range and the new deeply updated H6 mid-sizer, it is considering looking at the Big Dog mid-size off-roader again as a hybrid offering and thinks there might be potential in the enormous 3.0-litre V6 plug-in hybrid Tank 700 as a $100K-plus aspirational range-topper.

It also has to weigh emissions concerns across the rest of its range, with plug-in hybrid versions of the H6 and ute range appearing to be high on the local subsidiary's list of vehicles it will need in future.

As Maciver puts it; “NVES is a big reason for plug-in vehicles going forward. We need more EVs and PHEVs. HEVs are not enough.”

Regardless, the brand has seen massive success with its hybrid range, which now comprises roughly 35 per cent of Jolion sales and nearly 50 per cent of H6 sales. As a brand, GWM has moved over 10,000 units in Australia thus far in 2024, up 24.5 per cent year-on-year.

Emissions standards could mean the H9 won't get a diesel option in Australia.

A next-gen plug-in hybrid drivetrain platform dubbed 'Hi-4T' with more powerful and efficient electric motors on each axle as well as longer EV-only driving range and improved on- and off-road performance is on the market in China, in new versions of the H6 and Big Dog mid-size SUVs.

It's thus far unclear which product will get this tech first in Australia, with a transverse version of the tech also underpinning the Tank 700 and the PHEV version of the Cannon Alpha.