GWM has confirmed it’s working on diesel hybrid and diesel plug-in hybrid powertrains, which will be launched in China early in 2027 – and their Australian release is on the cards, given the importance of our market to the Chinese automaker.
“We have both [powertrain types in development], it can be hybrid and plug-in hybrid, you can choose what you like,” GWM chief technology officer Nicole Wu told Australia and New Zealand media.
She confirmed GWM is developing technical solutions to manage NOx and particulate emissions, typically a challenge for diesel engines.
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“Emission treatment systems on a diesel engine, built for a conventional car and a hybrid, are very similar,” explained GWM technical director and chief engineer Adam Thomson. “The solution to the emissions issue is basically the same one.”
Ms Wu said GWM believes diesel hybrids will be important for Australia, likely referring to our emissions regulations under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).
Given these diesel hybrids aren’t due in China until early 2027, a launch in Australia will likely follow after that – and allow Chery to get a jump on GWM, with its new diesel plug-in hybrid ute due here before the end of 2026.
However, GWM has been working on diesel hybrid and diesel plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology for some time.
“The diesel hybrid technology is not new. It has been in development for around six years,” GWM chairman Jack Wei told Australia and New Zealand media through a translator.
“Testing in commercial vehicles has shown around 15 per cent fuel savings in flat conditions, and up to 30 per cent in more demanding environments like Australia.
“The traditional weaknesses of diesel, such as lag during acceleration and higher noise, are addressed by electrification. Electric assistance removes lag and reduces noise.
“At speeds of around 50 to 60km/h, noise levels are comparable to petrol vehicles. In many cases, customers would not be able to tell the difference.
“From GWM’s testing, diesel engines with hybrid systems can meet very strict emissions standards, including Euro 7, even without AdBlue in some cases.”
No specifications have been released as yet for these new electrified diesel powertrains, though GWM currently offers a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine in its Cannon and Cannon Alpha, with a new 3.0-litre unit due later this year.
GWM also hasn’t confirmed which of its models will offer the technology. It currently only offers diesel powertrains in its larger body-on-frame vehicles, including its utes and the Tank 300 and Tank 500 off-road SUVs sold in Australia.
While other brands currently offer or have previously offered diesel plug-in hybrid powertrains in other markets, including Mercedes-Benz, none of these have been offered in Australia.
There have been mild-hybrid diesel engines in the ute segment, including in the Toyota HiLux, but otherwise more electrified powertrains have used petrol engines at their core – including GWM’s own Cannon Alpha PHEV.
GWM has also previously offered a conventional petrol-hybrid version of the Cannon Alpha in Australia, though it has phased this out in favour of the PHEV.
The Chinese brand offers a wide range of petrol hybrid and petrol plug-in hybrid vehicles in Australia, including not only ladder-frame utes and SUVs but also more car-like crossover SUVs.
This allowed it to be the third-largest brand for hybrid sales in Australia in 2025, as well as third overall for PHEVs.
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