GWM has opened the door wide to even more expensive SUVs as it continues to dramatically expand its lineup.
“Right now our flagship is Tank 500. We want to grow these markets the right way, grow these markets to greater volume,” GWM Australia and New Zealand managing director Charles Zhao said. AutoExpert.
“And in the meantime, we focus not only on the products, but also on customer satisfaction.
“We will no longer have this much more expensive car in Australia in the coming year, but the doors will be open for these more expensive cars. These models will not be volume models, the 700, 800.
“But we may consider this if we see continued, steady market growth, increased market share and better customer satisfaction.
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“We want to focus on the 300 and 500 in the short term, and not on the 400 or 700 in the short term. That is [in] a year’s time.”
The company has previously said that if the business case for the Tank 700 were made, it would take 6 to 9 months to hit the market here.
Although products from Great Wall Motor’s premium Wey brand have been banned for Australia, the newer Tank brand has continued to expand into the higher-end market.
The glitzy Tank 800 has yet to be unveiled, but it was previewed in concept form in 2021. It will sit atop the Tank brand, which is sold as a sub-brand in Australia under the GWM nameplate.
The Tank 400 and Tank 700 are already for sale in China. Both have a similar angular design language, which contrasts them with the more conservative, chrome-laden Tank 500 and the boxy Tank 300.
‘I doubt I would [pose] is how far customers are willing to go when it comes to purchasing a GWM,” says Steve Maciver, head of marketing and communications for GWM Australia and New Zealand.
“What we saw over the last three to four years was that the average sales price of a GWM in 2020 was about $23,000. That’s now north of $40,000 in a fairly short period of time.
“GWM’s average sales price is consistently rising, which tells us that customers are excited about what we’re doing, they like the product, they still see the value, and we need to test that with the right product.
“We take the time for that. We’re not in a rush to necessarily launch more expensive products, but if there’s a product that we think there’s demand for in Australia, we’ll certainly look at it.
“Regardless of price, value is still a very important factor for any car brand. I would certainly argue for us that this is at the core of what we do.
“It doesn’t mean you can’t offer more premium products in terms of how they present themselves and how they’re priced, but the value still has to be there for the consumer.
“When the consumer sees that, whether it’s a $25,000 Jolion, or another $90,000, $95,000 Tank, as long as the value is there for the customer, we think price is probably less important, but there are products out there that would that could potentially be expanded.
The most expensive GWM model in Australia right now is the Tank 500 Ultra Hybrid, which costs $73,990 drive-away.
In 2025 it will get a plug-in hybrid option, which will probably be even more expensive.
If the Tank 700 and Tank 800 came here, they would almost certainly be even more expensive.
The plug-in hybrid Tank 700 was launched in China earlier this year, with a 265 kW/560 Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo engine mated to a 120 kW/400 Nm electric motor, a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium battery. .
The total system power is 385 kW and 800 Nm, with an electric range of 90 km according to the WLTC cycle.
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Tank 400
The five-seater SUV is 5090mm long, 2061mm wide and 1952mm high and has a wheelbase of 3000mm.
For reference, a Toyota LandCruiser 300 series is a maximum of 5015mm long, 2000mm wide and 1950mm high on a 2850mm wheelbase.
The wading depth is 900 mm, or 970 mm with the available air springs.
The Tank 400 is a more affordable SUV, which as the nameplate suggests is priced between the smaller Tank 300 and the larger Tank 500 in its home market.
It is 4985 mm long, 1960 mm wide and 1905 mm high and has a wheelbase of 2850 mm.
In China it is also available exclusively with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, but this uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The engine produces 180 kW and 380 Nm and is coupled to a 120 kW/400 Nm electric motor for a total system power of 300 kW and 750 Nm.
It also features a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 37.1 kWh ternary lithium battery.
This powertrain is shared with the Tank 500.
MORE: 2024 GWM Tank 700 review: Fast ride
