Little-known car brand to launch in the UK with three new models – including cheaper alternative to Land Rover Defender
ANOTHER little-known car brand from China is hoping to become a hit in the UK with the release of three new models.
GWM, which stands for Great Wall Motor, already sells the Ora 03 - or, as it used to be known, ‘Funky Cat’ - alongside the upcoming Haval Jolion Pro Hybrid, a mid-size crossover.
But the ambitious car maker, which releases motors under various model lines, such as Ora, a range of small EVs, and Haval, which specialises in crossovers and SUVs, is now looking to launch a pick-up truck and several SUVs.
Ora and Haval are joined by the likes of Poer, Wey and Tank - and they could all come to a GWM dealership near you soon enough.
Poer, known as Great Wall Pao in China, was introduced to the Australian market in 2024 with a hybrid pick-up truck called the Sahar, where it has enjoyed huge success.
The Tank line, which is also rumoured to be on its way to the UK, is perhaps the most intriguing; featuring a rugged off-roader called the 300 that could be considered a cheaper alternative to the Land Rover Defender.
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Like the Sahar, the 300 is currently on sale in Australia for a price that roughly matches £22,500 and features a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a hybrid system and four-wheel drive.
Furthermore, the Wey 05 plug-in hybrid is a premium SUV that’s aimed at the European market.
In the meantime, the Haval Jolion Pro Hybrid will go on sale by February, priced from £23,995.
It will rival the likes of the Dacia Duster Hybrid 140 and MG ZS Hybrid.
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GWM joins a host of other Chinese car brands that have debuted in the UK in recent years.
Late last year, we reported on Omoda, who were looking to take on the likes of Nissan and Kia with two incredibly low-priced new models.
They'll be joined by Avatr, which is coming to the UK by the end of 2025 as part of a joint venture between battery specialist CATL, carmaker Changan and tech giants Huawei.
Already a hit in Thailand, their first release will likely be the ‘11’ SUV, which is similar in size to the BMW X5.
Leapmotor are perhaps best-placed to take the UK by storm with the release of two budget motors - including a small EV that is priced at just £15,995.
Their offerings are the C10 family SUV and the T03 city car - with the latter standing out for its £15,995 price tag, making it the UK’s second-cheapest electric car at just £1,000 more than the Dacia Spring.
Similar in looks to the Kia Picanto, Sun Motors supremo Rob Gill has already taken the T03 for a spin, describing it in his road test as a "no-frills, budget EV" and highlighting that it's £6,000 cheaper than a Fiat 500.
Indeed, Leapmotor has teamed up with Fiat-making Stellantis – who owns the likes of Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and others – to build and sell their cars in Europe.