Present selection of electric, hybrid and fully ICE powertrains is doing well, with plans for a new diesel and perhaps a V8 still on course.

COMMITMENT to adding a large diesel soon and a V8 perhaps next year across a swath of additional as well as familiar products hasn’t been jolted by fossil fuel insecurity, but having electric-involved drivetrains to take priority to if circumstances demand has become more important.

Having self-contained and plug-involved hybrid and some electric drivetrains in his range at this time is a great satisfaction for GWM’s country manager Cameron Thomas (below).

While fuel prices and signs of any altered buying trends are being watched carefully, and there are signs of increasing interest in electric-involved products, there is no thought of weaning out any pure internal combustion choices at the moment.

A lot hinged on what happens in the Middle East “and whether that brings the price (of fuel) down again” and sense was that his electric, self-contained and plug-involved hybrid products were doing as well as, if not better, than when Clean Car rebates applied.

“I think we'll certainly see a higher mix of EV than what we had maybe last year. And I don't think we're going to see the fuel price come back down anytime soon.”

At the moment, product planning was not being altered and there is satisfaction with how all current fare is tracking.

“I think our benefit is the variation of what we're offering, our strategy is we offer any power train that the customer wants and that separates us from many of our competitors.

“If we wanted to strip out diesels, for example, we could, but there's not really any need at the moment. We're still in a positive compliance position and the forecast is that that will continue based on a mix of products that we have.”

The variation has helped GWM and subsidiary Haval enjoy a solid year, with more market share than some high-profile Japanese makes.

Significant success with a new Ora electric car about to release as well as that big capacity diesel incoming its largest four-wheel-drive models – the platform and technology sharing Cannon Alpha ute and Tank 500 SUV – is anticipated.

More gains should come in 2027 when more sports utilities, including GWM’s largest, the plush Tank 700, reach this region. Other Tank models are also in consideration and the V8, which is likely to be petrol, could be box-ticked.

The big earner Cannon Alpha ute has presented in diesel and petrol-electric, but has yet to come in a full electric format - a direction just taken by the Toyota Hilux.

Thomas says he has no news on whether GWM has a direct foil to the battery-pure version of the country’s second-strongest selling ute, but doesn’t discount that China isn’t working on it.

Speaking at Fieldays, the national agricultural show neat Hamilton, from a site as large as those for show giants Ford and Toyota and equalling that of a major China rival, BYD, Thomas said ambition to build from a 3.4 percent current market share - which places GWM ahead of Suzuki, Mazda and Subaru and right on the heels of Nissan - seems set to resolve quickly.

GWM is currently the eighth biggest brand here and might step up a place by end of this year, with more growth expected in 2027, with climbing to fifth being the target.

“We've got quite a lot of product activity at the back end of this year which we expect to power us up into that fifth position. A combination of product actions and some channels that we're focusing on, we believe we'll be able to make that.”

One aim is to ensure GWM meets requirements to become a contender for Government fleet contracts.

The long-term aim of being a top three performer, likely behind perennially dominant Toyota but jostling either current second and third place-getters Ford and Mitsubishi out remains the target.

The new diesel was announced internationally a year ago and has been eagerly anticipated since.

An in-line four-cylinder, it’s outputs remain unclear, a barometer is the 184kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 used by the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.

Currently those biggest diesel in GWM use here is a 2.4-litre four, for which 135kW/480Nm is cited. Some experts are suggesting that engine in larger displacement could make 169kW and 600Nm.

With GWM’s ute corral, the larger engine is just for the Cannon Alpha and not the smaller, and older Cannon, which runs a 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre.

Impact on Tank and Cannon Alpha buying patterns is expected, but Thomas suggested in the current environment it might not be a high-volume choice.

“I think, to be honest, I think our plug-in hybrid Cannon is going to be a much stronger proposition as we see that transition starting to take place for us. I guess time will tell.”