Great Wall Motor’s pickup division has reinforced its long-standing position at the top of the Chinese market, while continuing to build momentum in key export regions including Australia.
According to information released by GWM, the manufacturer sold 181,660 pickup trucks globally in 2025, securing its 28th consecutive year as China’s number one pickup brand. In its home market, GWM now accounts for close to 50 per cent of all pickup sales, meaning one in every two pickups sold in China carries a GWM badge.
International markets are playing an increasingly important role in that performance. Overseas pickup sales reached 63,784 units in 2025, representing a 17 per cent year-on-year increase and positioning GWM as the leading Chinese pickup exporter by volume.
Australia a key pillar in global strategy
Australia has emerged as one of GWM’s most significant international markets, with strong growth recorded across the Cannon range. Based on VFACTS data cited in the release, GWM sold 12,412 Cannons locally in 2025, an increase of 34.1 per cent compared with the previous year.
The Cannon Alpha accounted for 2,524 of those sales, up 38.8 per cent year on year, with growing uptake of GWM’s Hi4-T plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology contributing to the result.
For fleet buyers, the mix of traditional internal combustion powertrains alongside emerging electrified options reflects a broader industry trend: providing choice while maintaining capability. GWM has positioned the Cannon Alpha Hi4-T as an example of how electrification can be applied without abandoning off-road performance.
Electrification tested in real conditions
In May 2025, the Cannon and Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV completed the Beer O’Clock Hill off-road challenge in Australia, a test widely regarded as one of the country’s toughest climbs. GWM stated that the Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV was the first electrified vehicle to complete the ascent, reinforcing its claim that electrification and serious off-road capability can coexist.
The model’s credentials were further recognised when it was named CarExpert’s “Best Electrified Ute” for 2025, highlighting growing acceptance of alternative powertrains in traditionally conservative segments such as pickups and light commercial vehicles.
Continued investment in conventional powertrains
Alongside electrification, GWM continues to invest in conventional and hybridised internal combustion powertrains. The introduction of a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 Cannon, paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, signals that diesel and petrol engines remain part of the near-term strategy for markets where towing, payload and long-distance capability are critical.
The V6 powertrain, producing 260 kW and 500 Nm, was tested in the Taklimakan Rally in China’s T2.1 production fuel category, where it secured six stage wins. GWM points to this program as evidence of durability and reliability under extreme endurance conditions.
Expanding global footprint
GWM now operates in more than 60 countries, with strong momentum reported in markets such as Australia, South Africa and Chile. In August 2025, the company commenced production at its Brazilian manufacturing facility, enabling local assembly of the 2.4-litre Cannon for Latin American markets.
Cumulative global pickup sales have exceeded 2.85 million units, underlining the scale GWM has achieved in a segment that remains strategically important for both private and fleet buyers worldwide.
Beyond sales volumes, GWM continues to participate in industry development through its involvement with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers’ Pickup Truck Branch, advocating for regulatory reform, market expansion and innovation within the pickup category.
For Australian fleet buyers, the results highlight how global manufacturers are balancing electrification, conventional powertrains and local market requirements as they compete in an increasingly crowded and evolving ute segment.
