TheGWM Tank 500 is gaining a diesel option in Thailand, but for now Australia will stick with hybrid and plug-in hybrid power.
That’s despite the smaller Tank 300 receiving a turbo-diesel engine earlier this year, which has quickly become the most popular powertrain in that lineup.
The Toyota Prado-rivalling Tank 500 is receiving the same 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine that’s seen in the related GWM Cannon Alpha and Tank 300, for the Thai market.
However, this vehicle is being built in Thailand, and GWM Australia has confirmed our Tank 500 will continue to be sourced from China.
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The 2.4-litre turbo-diesel produces 135kW and 480Nm of torque in the Thai-market Tank 500, and is available with either rear- or four-wheel drive.
The diesel-powered model is distinguished by a repositioned spare wheel, mounted under the vehicle instead of on the tailgate.
GWM has previously hinted the Tank 500 will gain an upcoming four-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo-diesel in Australia.
The bigger new engine, due for release around 2027, will also be fitted to the Cannon Alpha and Tank 700 off-road SUV, producing more power and torque than the brand’s existing 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre oilers.
“Some powertrain, especially [in] the high-end SUV, will need the high-torque [engine],” GWM International vice president James Yang told Australian media in Shanghai earlier this year.
“So in China, or other market, we’ll have the 2.4-litre diesel, especially in Thailand… But I think in Australia, the high-torque, big engine [is needed]. So for some products, we’ll wait for this engine to launch in Australia.”
It won’t be the first Tank 500 powertrain Australia will miss out on, with a 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol V6 also offered overseas but not here.
GWM believes it can offset the emissions of its turbo-diesel offerings with a range of hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)
“So in the future, I think the Australian market, the PHEV, and HEV, plus diesel is a good choice for the customer… and also we have the EV, but I think for some scenarios the sales volume can be not very high,” said Mr Yang.
“So maybe these are the three types of powertrain that’s much better for this market and also can balance the emissions.”
GWM now offers hybrid powertrains across its Haval Jolion, Haval H6, Haval H7, Tank 300 and Tank 500 lineups, plus PHEV versions of the Haval H6 GT and Cannon Alpha (and, soon, the Tank 500).
It has just one EV, the Ora hatch, but it’ll be joined by two more EVs by the end of next year.
Petrol power continues to be offered in the Haval Jolion, Haval H6 and Haval H6 GT lineups, and diesel power in the Tank 300, Cannon and Cannon Alpha.
The company has said its hybrid-heavy lineup has already allowed it to start accumulating credits under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), meaning it can continue to offer diesel models without copping financial penalties, and also avoid imposing price rises on customers as other brands have done.
GWM wants to be a top-five automotive brand in Australia by 2030, with plans to surpass 50,000 sales this year and reach 75,000 annual deliveries by the end of the decade.