The 'original' hybrid version of GWM's flagship off-roader could meet an early end if the plug-in hybrid version proves to be the top seller.
GWM may move to scrap the 'plug-less' hybrid version of the Tank 500 four-wheel-drive if enough customers gravitate to the soon-to-be-launched plug-in hybrid.
It comes as a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine firms for the Tank 500 range in 2027 – after a global reveal in Australia mid-next year – with more power and torque than the 2.4-litre in other GWM vehicles.
The regular hybrid variant of the GWM Cannon Alpha ute was axed in July, shortly after the introduction of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which was close on price despite a significantly larger battery pack.
While the price difference between hybrid and plug-in hybrid Tank 500s is larger, at $6000, GWM Australia head of marketing and communications Steve Maciver said the plug-less SUV could "potentially" meet the ute's fate.
"It's going to come down to the take-up of that plug-in hybrid technology, what that looks like and where we settle the model mix.
"The behaviour and the powertrain preferences for consumers will differ slightly from segment to segment. It's too early for us to say that. Let's see where it ends up, and we'll take it from there."
Unless the Tank 500 PHEV is a runaway success, GWM may elect to wait until the arrival of the 3.0-litre diesel engine, to provide an alternative for customers not yet ready for a plug-in vehicle.
The new, enlarged engine is yet to be formally locked in for the Tank 500, but GWM executives have previously identified the SUV as a likely candidate for the unit.
A barrier standing in the PHEV's way is its five-seat configuration, selected to maximise payload compared to the seven-seat plug-less hybrid.
Australian government approval documents show GWM has only increased the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of the PHEV by 35kg compared to the regular hybrid, despite being 219kg heavier, cutting its payload from 839kg to 655kg.
The plug-in hybrid is also limited to a single, top-of-the-range Ultra variant, without the regular hybrid's Lux entry grade.
Despite pricing that undercuts diesel rivals from Toyota, Ford and Mitsubishi, the Tank 500 has proven to be a modest seller for GWM in Australia.
Only 1117 examples have been reported as sold so far this year, down 9.6 per cent on the prior year.
The eventual arrival of the diesel is likely to boost sales – as it has for the Tank 300, given it is the preferred fuel type in the off-road SUV category – along with the PHEV, which now outsells diesel and regular hybrid power in the Cannon Alpha.
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
