Great Wall Motor will launch more than 50 electrified and electric vehicles by 2025 as it plans to become a leading global player in so-called ‘new energy vehicles’.
It says a number of these vehicles are already in advanced stages of design and development or already on sale in China.
In addition to an expansion of its new energy vehicle line-up – a term referring to hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles – it also plans to open its first zero-carbon emission factory in 2023 and is testing its first hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles.
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Wey Latte/Coffee 02 -
Wey Coffee 01/Macchiato -
Next Ora Cat/Lightning Cat
As part of its 2035 development plan announced earlier this year, the Chinese Government aims to have 50,000 FCEVs on its roads by 2025 and is providing subsidies to manufacturers developing FCEV technology, therefore encouraging GWM to throw its hat in the ring.
The company said last year it would invest ¥3 billion (A$626 million) over three years in R&D for hydrogen vehicles, and “will ride into top three in global hydrogen market share by 2025”.
As part of its green efforts, GWM is also supporting the use of renewable energy and the recycling of water and residual heat at its facilities, and the implementation of solar-powered charging stations.
The announced plan to introduce more than 50 new energy vehicles by 2025 comes as the company showcases three new vehicles at the Paris motor show.
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Haval Shenshou -
Haval Chitu -
Haval H6 Hybrid -
Haval Jolion Hybrid
The electric Next Ora Cat is an export version of the Lightning Cat, while the plug-in hybrid Wey Coffee 01 and Coffee 02 are known in China as the Wey Macchiato and Latte, respectively.
GWM is making a serious play for the European market with electric models from its Wey brand and plug-in hybrids from its premium Wey brand, a dramatic change from its earlier efforts on the continent where it instead fielded commercial vehicles to little success.
The company now offers three different sizes of Wey plug-in hybrid crossovers, has revealed hybrid versions of the Tank 300 and 500 and a plug-in hybrid version of the latter, and sells three battery-electric vehicles under the Ora brand.
The Haval brand, depending on the market, offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid H6, and hybrid versions of the Jolion, Chitu and Shenshou crossovers.
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GWM Shanhai Cannon -
Tank 500 PHEV and 300 HEV -
Ora Good Cat -
Ora Ballet Cat
The GWM pickup brand sells an EV ute in China but will broaden its electrified commercials soon, leading with the more luxurious Shanhai Cannon which will offer a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol hybrid alongside turbo-petrol V6 and turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines.
CarExpert understands GWM Australia is looking at all three powertrain options, and the Shanhai Cannon is set to launch locally in the next 6-9 months.
It’s expected to be one of a total of six or seven electrified vehicles in GWM’s local line-up by the end of 2023, alongside the electric Ora Good Cat and electrified versions of the Tank 300 and Tank 500.
All of these will be sold under the GWM banner, with Ora and Tank being treated as sub-brands instead of full-fledged brands as they are in China and Europe.
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