GWM leans on diesel and PHEV utes as Cannon Hi4-T nears launch
GWM says Australian ute buyers are not ready for a battery-electric ute, and is turning instead to diesel and plug-in hybrid Cannon variants, including a smaller Cannon Hi4-T PHEV due in mid-October 2026.
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GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid
GWM says Australian ute buyers are not ready for a battery-electric ute, and is leaning instead on diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains across its Cannon range. Speaking at the Everything Electric show in Sydney, GWM Australia and New Zealand chief operating officer John Kett said the ute market is shifting towards plug-in hybrids and that Hi4-T technology is, in GWM’s view, the best transition from diesel for the way these vehicles are used. 310
That position sits within a wider Australian product expansion plan that GWM has tied to its sales ambitions. Across recent announcements, the brand has said it wants to broaden its line-up across petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, while targeting top-five brand status by the end of 2027. 578
Cannon Hi4-T timing, pricing and offer conditions
CarExpert reported that the smaller Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid ute is due in mid-October 2026 and will be offered at a promotional $47,990 drive-away for Australian Business Number holders until 31 October 2026. In that report, GWM said the offer would make the Cannon Hi4-T Australia’s cheapest PHEV ute at launch, ahead of the JAC Hunter PHEV, BYD Shark 6 and Ford Ranger PHEV. 310
GWM’s own Cannon page gives a separate retail starting point for the Hi4-T, listing it from $50,990 drive-away for Lux and $54,990 drive-away for Ultra. The manufacturer says that limited-time offer includes either a $2,000 driveaway cash bonus or a $2,000 fuel card for vehicles purchased before 31 October 2026, and specifies that the driveaway price is for private buyers in Victoria. 1
The manufacturer and media reports should be read on their own terms: GWM’s retail pricing and offer conditions are one set of figures, while the ABN-only promotional drive-away price is another. GWM also says the Cannon Hi4-T has a 3.5-tonne braked towing capacity, consistent with the Australian market positioning described in CarExpert’s reporting. 1310
Hi4-T specification and the range figures in play
GWM and CarExpert describe the Cannon Hi4-T as using a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor integrated with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310kW and 750Nm combined. CarExpert also said the ute uses a 33.1kWh LFP battery, can DC fast-charge from 30 to 80 per cent in 18 minutes, and has vehicle-to-load capability with a 6kW discharge rate. 3910
There is, however, a difference in the claimed efficiency figures. GWM’s Cannon page says the Hi4-T can travel up to 115km on electric power under NEDC testing and up to 1037km combined, while CarExpert reported 118km NEDC electric range and 1017km combined range from its own coverage. Both sets of figures are presented as claims from their respective sources, not as one resolved specification. 1910
CarExpert said the Australian-market Cannon Hi4-T was shown with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch infotainment screen using Coffee 3 software, although GWM had not yet confirmed those screens for the local version. The same report said the ute has a live rear axle, part-time four-wheel drive and a locking rear differential, while GWM’s site also highlights low-range transfer case hardware and all-terrain modes. 91
Cannon Alpha diesel joins the range
GWM has also launched its new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder in the Cannon Alpha ute and Tank 500 SUV. CarExpert reported that the Cannon Alpha diesel is available to pre-order now, with first deliveries through GWM dealerships from mid-September, while PerthNow’s coverage of GWM’s Australian development work said local tuning has included ride, handling, transmission, throttle mapping and ADAS refinement. 654
According to CarExpert, the Cannon Alpha diesel comes in Lux and Vanta trims priced at $58,990 and $63,990 drive-away respectively. The same report said the 3.0-litre engine produces 170kW and 620Nm, lifts payload to 945kg and reduces claimed fuel use to 7.3L/100km. 6
CarExpert also said the 3.0-litre Cannon Alpha gets the latest Coffee OS infotainment on a 14.6-inch screen, while the PHEV variants retain the previous-generation system for now. PerthNow’s report added that GWM has been refining its driver-assistance systems for Australia, including the addition of a more traditional cruise control function alongside adaptive and intelligent cruise control. 64
How the Cannon Alpha diesel differs from the PHEV
The Cannon Alpha diesel and PHEV also differ in their underpinnings. CarExpert said the diesel variants use a live rear axle with leaf springs and part-time four-wheel drive, while the PHEV versions use rear coil springs and a torque-on-demand 4WD system. 6
CarExpert’s Cannon Alpha price-and-specs coverage said the PHEV models continue to use a 37.1kWh battery and a 3.5-tonne braked towing figure, while GWM’s own Cannon Alpha page says the PHEV has a maximum 6kW V2L output and usable battery capacity of 37.1kWh. Together with the Cannon Hi4-T, those details mean GWM will soon offer two plug-in hybrid dual-cab utes in Australia, with the larger Cannon Alpha already on sale and the smaller Hi4-T due later in 2026. 62
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- GWM Cannon Ute: Diesel 4x4 with 3.5t TowingRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM Cannon Ute: Diesel 4x4 with 3.5t Towing
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Cited in 4 paragraphs: Cannon Hi4-T timing, pricing and offer conditions; Hi4-T specification and the range figures in play.
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- GWM Cannon Alpha: PHEV & Diesel 4x4 UteRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM Cannon Alpha: PHEV & Diesel 4x4 Ute
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Cited in 1 paragraph: How the Cannon Alpha diesel differs from the PHEV.
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- GWM says Australia isn’t ready for electric utesRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM says Australia isn’t ready for electric utes
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Cited in 4 paragraphs: GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid; Cannon Hi4-T timing, pricing and offer conditions; Hi4-T specification and the range figures in play.
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- GWM continues ADAS refinement for AustraliaRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM continues ADAS refinement for Australia
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Cited in 2 paragraphs: Cannon Alpha diesel joins the range.
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- GWM bets on new diesel to become a top-five brand in AustraliaRole not assessedSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM bets on new diesel to become a top-five brand in Australia
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Cited in 2 paragraphs: GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid; Cannon Alpha diesel joins the range.
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- 2026 GWM Cannon Alpha price and specs - CarExpertNews publisherSource extract saved
Why these labels?2026 GWM Cannon Alpha price and specs - CarExpert
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Publishes automotive news and reviews and operates a car-buying service connecting buyers with dealers. Identity reference ↗
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Cited in 5 paragraphs: Cannon Alpha diesel joins the range; How the Cannon Alpha diesel differs from the PHEV.
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Cited in 1 paragraph: GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid.
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- GWM plots biggest Aussie model assault yetNews publisherSource extract saved
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Cited in 1 paragraph: GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid.
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- 2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV ute detailed, soon to go BYD Shark ...News publisherSource extract saved
Why these labels?2026 GWM Cannon Hi4-T PHEV ute detailed, soon to go BYD Shark ...
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Publishes automotive news and reviews and operates a car-buying service connecting buyers with dealers. Identity reference ↗
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Cited in 3 paragraphs: Hi4-T specification and the range figures in play.
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- GWM says Australia isn’t ready for electric utesNews publisherSource extract saved
Why these labels?GWM says Australia isn’t ready for electric utes
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Cited in 5 paragraphs: GWM shifts its ute pitch to diesel and plug-in hybrid; Cannon Hi4-T timing, pricing and offer conditions; Hi4-T specification and the range figures in play.
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GWM Cannon Hi4-T launch undercuts the PHEV ute market
GWM has launched the Cannon Hi4-T PHEV in Australia with a time-limited offer that places it at the bottom of the local plug-in hybrid ute price stack.
