GWM News

A new hybrid competitor could crack the 4WD market.

GWM has reduced the drive-away price of its Haval Jolion small SUV by up to $2000 signalling a price war with its Chinese rival Chery and its Tiggo 4.

Haval's Subaru-rivalling H7 soft-roader gets a significant upgrade overseas despite only just launching in Australia.

GWM was here before the multitude of other Chinese car brands arrived, which allowed it to build a reputation that could soon see it become a brand as ‘Aussie’ as Toyota with just a few more models — and it’s so obvious what they are. Now you might think that’s ridiculous, but once Australians would have laughed at the idea of swapping their Holdens and Fords for a Toyota, but models such as the LandCruiser, HiLux and Corolla changed their minds, forever.GWM is poised to do the same, but it’ll take more models and the right ones — these ones.GWM’s year-to-date sales (until the end of August) were 34,398, and while Toyota is a long way ahead as expected with 163,491 sales, GWM’s results make it the seventh most-bought brand in Australia. If GWM’s sales keep tracking upwards at the present rate it will overtake Mitsubishi (currently sixth place for year to date sales) in 2026.Catching Toyota is highly unlikely in the next decade if ever, but GWM doesn’t need to beat Toyota to be a successful and loved brand in Australia. If it can aim for what Kia (55,554) and Hyundai (51,957) have now it’ll be safe… well until its Chinese rivals start pecking away at its lead. GWM has an excellent model portfolio already and they are all doing big numbers.The Haval Jolion small SUV has reached 12,278 this year already, the Haval H6 mid-sized SUV is at 9224, the Tank 300 has reached 3271 and the Cannon 4x4 ute has reached 4428 sales. Adding to the overall number are decent sales of the Cannon Alpha ute with 1549 sales and the Tank 500 large SUV with 1021 sales.It would seem that GWM doesn’t really need any new models at all as it has utes and SUVs, which is the way to Aussie sales success. But the models it doesn’t have are so obvious you might not have spotted it and not having them is very ‘un-Chinese’. GWM doesn’t have electric vehicles.Well it has the little Ora hatch, which is cute, but lacks the outstanding refinement, cutting edge EV architecture and dazzling cabin tech Aussies have come to expect from Chinese EVs. Still 432 have been sold this year.GWM has won Australia over already with its regular combustion cars and now it must add good electric models to its range.Fellow Chinese brand MG has done just that and if GWM dawdles with EVs then MG will surge ahead, especially with the launch of its MG S5 and new MG4 Urban electric cars.The electric models GWM needs now are a Jolion EV, a H6 EV, a medium-sized electric sedan to rival the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal and a new-gen Ora that’s better than the current version.    Chinese EVs are known to be exceptional both in technology and value and GWM launching an electric line-up of at least four battery electric vehicles will ensure it can overtake Mitsubishi and possibly even Hyundai, Kia, Ford and Mazda for yearly sales.GWM’s footprint in Australia is now huge with more than 120 dealerships already operating in Australia. The hard part is done, and EVs will be the final piece of the GWM puzzle.Does GWM have the EV know-how and the models? That’s a good question and the company’s Chief Operating Officer John Kett said it does, but we’ll believe it when we drive it.When asked earlier in 2025 where GWM’s EVs are, Kett said they were coming with two or three new ones to arrive in 2026.“Should we do better? Certainly. Are we happy with the progress? Yes. Have we got more Oras and other EV platforms in our plan going forward? Yes, definitely,” he told CarsGuide.Whether GWM can do electric cars as well as MG and BYD really remains to be seen, but if the company is able to produce not only affordable EVs but good ones even then it might even cause Toyota to start looking over its shoulder.

GWM will finally offer an electric SUV next year, complete with right-hand drive production.

It’s never a good sign when car companies don’t tell you how many cars they’ve sold.Typically car makers love to spread the word about how successful it has  been and tell you exactly how beloved its vehicles are. So when they decided not to reveal the details of their newest model’s popularity, it does raise red flags.Which suggests sales of the new Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) may not be reaching the highest heights that the company was hoping for. When asked for details on the hybrid Ranger’s success, a Ford spokesperson told CarsGuide that the company doesn’t break out sales data for its individual models.Instead it told us this: “We are pleased to see customers nationwide adopting new technology and reaping the benefits of Ranger Hybrid, such as Pro Power On Board, to get the most out of their vehicle.”You’ll notice at no point did it indicate how many “customers” are enjoying these benefits. It could be hundreds or it could be two (but that seems unlikely).To be fair, Ford has never revealed the details of its individual models, namely its flagship Raptor, which is believed to be a sales success. So just because they won’t say how many customers have plugged-in to Ranger, it doesn’t mean it’s a sales flop.But if car makers were hoping that the plug-in hybrid technology would be the saviour of the ute segment, there are signs that there is still a long way to go before customers fully embrace this new breed of ute.The best example we have is the BYD Shark 6. Why? Because it’s an entirely PHEV-powered ute and therefore all of its published sales are the PHEV-powered model.So far in 2025, year-to-date to August, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) tells us that BYD has sold 12,918 Shark 6. GWM revealed to CarsGuide that it has sold 441 Cannon Alpha PHEV in the four months it has been on sale.The FCAI also tells us that there have been 13,936 PHEV ‘commercial vehicles’ sold, which doesn’t leave a lot of sales for the rest of the PHEV commercial offerings (which includes the Ranger) to pick up - just 607 to be precise.Those three utes are the most notable PHEV-powered workhorses, so the success or failure of them will shape the course of the market for years to come. If they become a popular new alternative to turbo diesel engines, as the Shark 6 is threatening to do, then it will give rival brands the confidence to push ahead with their own. Alternatively, if they fade away after a strong start, it will likely mean the end of PHEV utes for the foreseeable future.Don’t believe me? Compare the amount of ‘Raptor rival’ tough utes on sale today and then think back to how many convertible SUVs you saw after the Range Rover Evoque drop-top flopped…There is no question the Shark 6 has made an impact, in a crowded and highly-competitive market the BYD is already the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute this year, behind only the Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max — and after missing the month of January.However, there are two very big months on the Shark’s books, specifically the 2810 sales in March and 2993 sales in June. Is it a coincidence that the fringe benefit tax on PHEVs ended on April 1 and EV Direct handed over the reins of BYD to the factory in July…Other than those two outliers, the Shark consistently does between 1200-1300 sales a month, which is solid but still well behind the Ranger and HiLux (although so is everything else).If the Shark can maintain its current rate of sales, then that’s probably enough to convince others of the merits of entering the PHEV ute contest. Other brands have already begun openly discussing it, Hyundai, for example, has made it clear it believes introducing another diesel-powered ute is simply not a starter for its planned entry later this decade.But whether or not how many brands drop diesel for hybrids will likely play out in the coming months and years, as the Shark 6, Ranger and Cannon Alpha carve a trail for the others to follow… or ignore.

Chinese carmakers aren’t just winning over Aussies with affordable electric SUVs, the same manufacturers have quickly established themselves as serious competitors in the popular ute segment that's dominated by the Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger. Just this year we’ve seen a stack of new Chinese utes models arrive in Australia to join some already well-established players. So, here’s the ultimate list of Chinese utes in Australia to help you keep up to date with what’s on the ground now and those expected to arrive soon.BYD has taken Australia by storm with its affordable electric cars, but wading into the treacherous and competitive waters of the ute segment inhabited by the likes of Toyota’s HiLux and Ford’s Ranger was brave. BYD, however, didn’t just wade in, it backstroked in during late last year and stole a sizable chunk of the market with the Shark 6 becoming the fourth best-selling 4x4 ute on the market so far in 2025.The Shark 6 is a plug-in hybrid that uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with two electric motors for a combined output of 321kW and 650Nm. Braked towing capacity is 2500kg.The GWM Cannon is the most established Chinese ute in Australia and is popular for its combination of good looks and good value.The Cannon dual-cab has a 2.4 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel unit making 135kW and 480Nm. Braked capacity is 3500kg.JAC’s T9 arrived in Australia in late 2024 and there are currently two grades on sale - the Oasis and the Haven. Powering the T9 is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 120kW and 410Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Braked towing capacity is 3200kg.LDV’s Terron 9 is the latest member of the brand’s growing ute family. Larger in every way than the T60 both in dimensions and grunt.Powered by a 2.5-litre turbo-diesel four cylinder making 163kW and 520Nm, the Terron 9 has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.An eTerron 9 electric version could also be arriving in Australia soon. The LDV T60 is the smaller stablemate of the Terron 9 and is powered by a 160kW/500Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder, mated to an-eight speed automatic, with a six-speed manual gearbox also available. LDV upgraded the T60 in 2025 and this T60 Max, as it's called now, has a higher braked towing capacity of 3500kg.The new Foton Tunland arrived late in 2025 a very different vehicle to the one we used to know with strikingly handsome exterior and lavish looking cabin.All variants have a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with a 48V mild hybrid system, with outputs of 120kW and 450Nm.Chery has confirmed that it will bring a plug-in hybrid ute to Australia to compete against BYD’s Shark 6 in 2026 and the Rely P3X could be it.Rely is one of the many brands owned by Chery, along with Omoda and Jaecoo which are already in Australia. Rely showed off the P3X recently at the Chengdu motor show and it's very likely one or both of these will be vehicles to be picked and arrive wearing a Chery badge.The P3X appears to have all the ingredients to make it a tough rival to the BYD Shark 6 with its ladder frame chassis and 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine with dual electric motors.MG’s U9 arrives right about now and could be a game changer, even if it’s based on a ute that’s already here - the LDV Terron 9.MG’s bosses say that the U9 will come with a choice of diesel, plug-in hybrid and fully electric powertrains, and that variety, along with its good looks and expected affordable price point, will make it a big market disrupter. A 3500kg braked towing capacity is confirmed as well - possibly only on the diesel.Unlike all the other utes here the Geely Riddara doesn’t sit on a ladder frame and is far more car-like and lifestyle focused than a work truck.Still, there’s definitely a market for a small and comfortable little ute like the Riddara RD6, which is likely to come to Australia with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.When it does come isn’t certain, with Geely appearing to concentrate more on growing its passenger car line-up first.

To borrow a line from Mark Twain, reports of the death of the V8 engine are greatly exaggerated.

GWM Australia has confirmed the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system seen on the Cannon Alpha PHEV ute will make its way to the brand’s Tank 500 4WD.The 2026 GWM Tank 500 PHEV will launch before the end of the year and will feature a large battery and electric motors with plenty of power and an impressive driving range. Importantly, the Tank 500 PHEV will be a five-seater to accommodate the battery.GWM is yet to confirm pricing for the Tank 500 PHEV, but the pricing difference between traditional hybrid and plug-in hybrids in the same trim level is typically less than $5000 for the brand. The standard hybrid Tank 500 starts from $73,990 drive-away.GWM says much of the powertrain, which it calls ‘Hi4 plug-in hybrid technology’, will be the same as found in the Cannon Alpha PHEV ute, including the 300kW total power output and hefty 750Nm of torque on tap. A claimed 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds is relatively handy for a full-size family 4WD.This comes thanks to the combination of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and 120kW electric motor, which put power to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission.Importantly, the GWM Tank 500 PHEV is rated for 3000kg of braked towing capacity, has 213mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 800mm. It has an approach angle of 30 degrees, breakover of 22.5 degrees and departure angle of 24 degrees.GWM claims 120km of electric driving range thanks to its 37.1kWh battery, but that’s tested via NEDC methods that tend to be more generous than more accurate WLTP testing. The brand also claims fuel consumption of 2.1L/100km, also not likely reflective of full-time real-world efficiency.Charging at 50kW on DC means a claimed 30 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes, or AC charging at 6kW should result in about 6.5 hours of charging.Instead of the third row, a more spacious second row will include heated, ventilated and massaging seats, with a touchscreen for rear passengers to control climate, lighting, media and comfort settings.The front of the cabin will have a 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, three-zone climate control, LED lighting and a suite of safety kit including a surround-view parking monitor.GWM says pricing will be confirmed in the coming weeks as the Tank 500 PHEV’s launch approaches. A page for customers to register interest is live on the brand’s website.

Australian new car sales are booming. We bought more than 100,000 new cars in August, which is an all time high for the month.