The Chinese are well known for their patience. Several generations waited 2300 years for the Great Wall to be completed zigzagging across some 21,200 km of difficult and almost impossible terrain.
However, the Great Wall Motor Co, after which it is named, is not so patient, rushing to dominate the Australian market for SUVs and sport-utility vehicles and on track this year to crack 50,000 annual sales Down Under. This scenario is a culmination of strong growth dating back to the Chinese automaker’s rebrand in 2020.
According to GWM Australia’s head of marketing and communications, Steve Maciver, there’s more growth to come … aggressive growth with no delays in supply.
“We had record results in June across every single state and territory. That sends a strong message that the brand is getting cut through and momentum everywhere in Australia,” Maciver said.
‘Pandering’ to Aussie buyers, growth has seen GWM post 25,042 deliveries (+36.2%) in 2022, with 36,397 (+45.3%) in 2023 before last year’s 17.5% gain to 42,782. And in a record result mid-way through 2025 the company chalked up 25,189 sales, propelling it to seventh place among all brands – its highest position yet.
The market for cars has grown more diverse as Chinese carmakers increasingly offer competitive prices and a greater range of electric vehicles, according to Tony Weber, chief executive of Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.
“These deliveries are what consumers demand from modern vehicles that are well equipped and competitively priced,” Weber said.
BYD came in sixth for the month of August, overtaking Mitsubishi, after its sales nearly quadrupled compared with August 2024, while GWM, MG and Chery each outsold the Isuzu ute and others in the month to round out the top 10.
China’s automotive industry is now by far the largest in the world. In 2023, it produced more than 30.16 million vehicles (including 26.1 million passenger cars and four million commercial vehicles), accounting for almost one-third of the world’s vehicle production.
In full year 2024, China produced more than 31 million vehicles and exports increased to nearly six million cars with Chery and SAIC at the top. Australians bought more than 20,000 Chinese-made vehicles in August, putting four Chinese brands into the top 10 for the first time, while Tesla sales slumped by more than a third.
The association has identified more than 3700 car and truck dealerships, ranging from family-owned small businesses to larger and publicly owned businesses operating across Australia,
“Some of these Chinese brands are becoming so sophisticated that we hope they will soon launch dealer councils like the brands that currently dominate in Australia,” Automotive Dealer Association CEO James Voortman said.
He cited a convergence of factors fuelling the growth of Chinese suppliers in the sector – Australian policy incentives, such as a new vehicle efficiency standard that favours zero-emission vehicles, rising local demand for low-emission options, China’s lower production costs, and its strategic specialisation in key segments such as electric vehicles.
Amid these growth trends, Voortman also highlighted Australian challenges in the sector such as “the supply of parts, wait times to service vehicles, and the long-term ability of manufacturers to guarantee their consumer warranties.”
Now to GWM’s new Cannon Ultra … it’s big on all accounts with a tray size 1730 mm in length, 1855 mm in width and 235 mm in depth. designed for durability and versatility.
Mechanically on all its variants the Ultra uses the same 2.4-litre 135kW/480Nm turbo-diesel engine and pairs that with a nine-speed automatic transmission, high and low gear ratios and a locking rear differential.
The switch to the new engine has seen fuel consumption fall – down from 9.4 litres per 100 km to 8.4 which should give a comfortable range of at least 750 km.
Safety levels are high with the latest driver aids including auto emergency braking (AEB), rear-cross traffic assist and lots more. Passive safety includes seven airbags including a centre airbag.
The Ultra can tow 3.5 tonnes on a braked trailer and is the second step on the GWM Cannon ute ladder representing the best value of the line-up.
With a starting price of $43,490, it adds to the base-model’s already good level of kit with an electric sunroof, leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and tinted windows.
As with the other Cannon model grades, the Ultra features permanent four-wheel drive and the now familiar dual-cab utility layout. The vehicle uses body-on-frame construction in deference to its genuine off-road abilities.
The Lux grade starts with the ute at $40,490 (up $1000), taking the range through the Ultra at $43,490 (unchanged), Vanta $45,490 (up $2000), and the off-road-focused XSR flagship, $3000 less expensive than before at $49,990 before on-roads.
A base Premium grade will be introduced later this year, using a carry-over 2-litre engine from the pre-facelift range.
Fewer interior buttons and more functions are housed in a now-standard 12.3-in. centre touch screen with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, DAB+ radio and voice command functionality. A 7 in. digital driver display has also been added, modernising the interior and giving drivers access to more live info. Wireless phone charging also comes as standard.
Mechanically, Lux through Vanta grades gets four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case and electric locking rear diff. An electric locking front diff and various off-road drive modes are added to the flagship XSR.
An electric sunroof, tailgate step, rear privacy glass, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front parking sensors (with a 360-deg. review camera) and ambient lighting are added on the Cannon Ultra.
Every variant in the range rolls on 18-in. wheels, with new-design alloys featuring on Lux and Ultra trim.
The 2025 Cannon carries over its previous five-star ANCAP rating. Standard safety kit includes seven airbags (with centre and curtain units), a reversing camera with rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and a raft of passive and active collision warnings.
A door open/vehicle approach warning, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, rear collision and cross-traffic alert, and driver fatigue monitoring system aims to keep all road users safe.
Buyers are covered by a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assistance included. A five-year capped-price servicing package will cover 54 months or 45,000 km of scheduled servicing for $2065.
Next: South Korea’s Genesis GV70 Signature Sport.
