Wuling Eksion certified in Australia, but GM says it won't be the importer

Certification filing, not a launch confirmation

Wuling's Eksion has appeared in Australian Design Rule certification filings, the step that confirms a vehicle has been approved for sale in Australia but stops well short of a confirmed launch. CarExpert reports the filing covers the Eksion, a product of the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, and that Wuling has yet to officially announce any Australian launch plans. No on-sale date, pricing or importer has been revealed. ²

Reporting on the certification by Russian outlet Cenyavto likewise notes that while federal approval has been granted for the 2026 Eksion, exact sales timing, the official importer and future pricing for Australian buyers remain undisclosed. The outlet cautions that a listing of this kind is not a guarantee of an imminent launch, even though it is rarely accidental. ¹

GM Australia rules itself out

Although the vehicle traces to a joint venture involving General Motors, GM Australia and New Zealand has confirmed it is not behind the filing. According to CarExpert, the company said in a statement: "GM ANZ is unable to comment or speculate on future products, however, we can confirm Wuling vehicles will not be imported or distributed by GM ANZ." ²

GM ANZ currently distributes Chevrolet and GMC vehicles under its GM Specialty Vehicles banner and separately manages Cadillac in Australia, according to CarExpert. The outlet notes the company has also not confirmed any plan to expand beyond that remit, and that there are as yet no right-hand-drive Chinese-built models it could draw on to widen the local lineup. Whether Wuling will handle its own distribution here or appoint a third party, as Deepal and Foton have with Inchcape or Forthing and LDV with Ateco, remains unclear. ²

What the certified Eksion is

The Eksion certified for Australia is a mid-size electric crossover with front-wheel drive and a five-seat cabin, listed in local certification documents with a single 150kW electric powertrain. CarExpert notes this is the only Wuling model certified locally so far, and that overseas the model is also offered with plug-in hybrid power and a seven-seat layout. Cenyavto lists the body length at 4745mm and identifies likely rivals including the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Geely EX5. ²¹

Equipment and battery details come from overseas specifications rather than any confirmed Australian configuration. Cenyavto reports the Indonesian-spec Eksion uses an LFP battery with 69.2kWh of capacity, and lists a 12.8-inch multimedia screen, panoramic roof, ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera among its features. No Australian battery, range or charging figures have been published, and overseas specifications should not be assumed to carry over. ¹

A brand with a growing footprint

Wuling is part of the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, established with GM and SAIC Motor — the company behind MG and LDV — in 2002, according to CarExpert. The brand says it now has a presence in more than 60 countries, and its Indonesian subsidiary, which builds vehicles including the Eksion, commenced operations in 2017. In 2023 the company said it was evaluating exporting vehicles to Australia. ²

Outside China, Wuling vehicles are predominantly sold under the Chevrolet badge, with markets ranging from Nigeria to Jamaica and Armenia, and CarExpert reports launches via third-party distributors this year in Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Mauritius and Moldova. The wider SAIC-GM joint venture is set to export more broadly: it has confirmed it will end Chevrolet sales in China, with GM China head John Roth saying in August that the company sees "meaningful opportunities to compete in select international markets: the Middle East, Africa, South America, Mexico and Asia-Pacific." ²

What is still unknown

The certification confirms the vehicle itself — a five-seat, 150kW electric Eksion — has been approved for the Australian market. What remains unanswered, as both CarExpert and Cenyavto note, is who will sell it, when, and at what price. Wuling has made no official announcement, GM ANZ has excluded itself, and the battery and equipment mix for any Australian-delivered cars is yet to be stated. A distributor appointment would be the next concrete signal of intent. ²¹