GWM reaffirms ANZ commitment and unveils hybrid future at Tech Day 2025

GWM has outlined its plans for Australia and New Zealand during Tech Day 2025, highlighting new hybrid and diesel models, aftersales investment, and the company’s growing role in the global right-hand-drive strategy.

The event brought together senior executives including James Yang, Vice President for International Markets; Parker Shi, Vice President and Head of GWM International; Nicole Wu, Global CTO; Richard Zhu, Chief Engineer for Hybrid Systems; and Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications for GWM Australia and New Zealand.

Yang said Australia “hosts an irreplaceable role at the heart of GWM’s global right-hand-drive strategy.”

“Australia is the foundation of our sales success and testament to the trust we have built with our customers,” he said.

“From January to September 2025 we delivered 42 156 vehicles across the Australia–New Zealand market — nearly half of our total right-hand-drive sales. We have been committed to this market for 17 years, with over 200 000 vehicles delivered, making us the longest-established Chinese auto brand in the region.”

Yang described Australia as “a proving ground for our technology and product strength” and “a launch pad for reaching other premium markets like Europe.”

He said the company recognises “the need to accelerate our new-energy-vehicle efforts in Australia and New Zealand” under the NVES and Clean Car Standard frameworks.

‘Now it’s time for value’

Shi told guests the brand’s next phase would focus on sustainable growth and customer trust rather than short-term volume.

“Now it’s time for value,” he said. “We’re not chasing volume for its own sake.
We’re building a brand that Australians and New Zealanders can trust.”

Shi confirmed that GWM aims for about 7%  market share and is investing heavily in aftersales capability.

He said more than 170 after-sales technicians have already been trained, and the company plans to invest $3m by 2026 to expand its training facilities.

He also announced new regional parts hubs in Western Australia and New South Wales to improve repair and delivery times.

“Australia holds special significance for GWM,” Shi said. “This is our testing ground for high-end technology and the home we have built together with our users.
We have never left, because we have come to see this land as our second hometown.”

Detail on hybrid technology

GWM Global CTO Nicole Wu presented the company’s global R&D structure and investment.

She said innovation “isn’t just a buzzword — it’s our DNA,” noting 35 years of engineering experience, 25 000 engineers worldwide, and 2.1 billion US dollars in annual R&D spending.

Wu said Australia’s conditions made it ideal for validation: “We have been running local testing in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth — highways, gravel, mountain tracks and slippery roads — to ensure our cars feel at home here, not just visiting here.”

Chief Engineer Richard Zhu introduced the Hi4 hybrid platform.

He said the system “delivers maximum power of 635 kilowatts and torque of 1 195 newton metres,” with up to 100 kilometres of electric-only range and more than 1 000 kilometres total range.

“For hardcore off-road users we engineered our Hi4-T to conquer every terrain — snow, mud and mountains — while balancing performance and efficiency,” Zhu said.

“Australia’s unique mix of highways, gravel roads and outback conditions is perfect for proving our hybrid systems.”

Tank 500 PHEV becomes flagship SUV

Marketing and communications head Steve Maciver unveiled the new Tank 500 Plug-in Hybrid, powered by the Hi4-T system.

He described it as “our new flagship SUV — a premium vehicle combining luxury and genuine off-road ability, powered of course by Hi4-T.”

Maciver said the Tank 500 PHEV highlights GWM’s hybrid direction and confirmed additional models are on the way, including a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel Tank and pickup to be revealed in Australia in May 2026.

Shi told attendees GWM “will never compromise on product quality or service,” emphasising that “trust is built through experience, not advertising.”

All GWM models sold in Australia and New Zealand now carry a seven-year warranty and have achieved five-star ANCAP safety ratings.

Seventeen years after first arriving in Australia, GWM now operates across multiple sub-brands — Haval, Tank, Cannon and Ora — and is positioning itself as a long-term local player.

Shi concluded: “We’ve been here 17 years — we’re not leaving. Australia and New Zealand are our second home.”