GWM's new AdBlue-free diesel lands in Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 as boss bets big on diesel demand
Why it matters: GWM has just started handing over a new non-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo-diesel in two of its biggest sellers, and its Australian boss says diesel still makes up 70-75 per cent of the ute and body-on-frame SUV market, a pointed argument for sticking with diesel even as the brand pushes plug-in hybrids elsewhere in the same models.
GWM's new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, a Bosch common-rail four-cylinder making 170kW and 620Nm, has started reaching Cannon Alpha and Tank 500 buyers this month after its August reveal. It doesn't need AdBlue, a point GWM is keen to push against rivals. Speaking to press this week, GWM Australia and New Zealand COO John Kett said diesel remains critical to hitting the brand's target of a top-five sales spot by 2027, needing roughly 1,500 monthly ute sales. "The market is shifting towards plug-in hybrid... but when we think about diesel, it's still 70, 75 per cent of the market," Kett said. A 4.0-litre V8 diesel is confirmed for the Tank 700 next year as a halo model rather than a volume seller.
Source: CarExpert · 23 September 2026