Wuling Eksion EV certification points to Australian launch plans, but GM ANZ rules out distribution

Wuling’s Australian certification filing and GM’s response

Wuling’s budget-oriented brand, part of the General Motors and SAIC Motor joint venture, has surfaced in Australia through a federal Australian Design Rule certification entry for the Eksion EV, a mid-size electric SUV. CarExpert said the filing suggests an Australian launch is being planned, while the same report noted that it was still unclear whether General Motors Australia and New Zealand would handle distribution. That question was later answered by GM ANZ, which told PerthNow that Wuling vehicles will not be imported or distributed by GM ANZ, confirming the brand would need another Australian distribution path if it enters the market. The PerthNow report also said Wuling has not formally announced local launch plans. sourceIds s8 ¹

Cars24 likewise reported that the ADR filing was the first strong clue of a local move, but stressed that neither Wuling nor GM ANZ had confirmed a launch at the time. Its report framed the paperwork as a sign of interest rather than a showroom commitment, which aligns with the later GM ANZ statement that its existing Australian operation will not sell the brand. sourceIds s14 ³

What the certification points to

The Australian certification material currently refers to a single front-mounted 150kW electric motor and a five-seat layout for the Eksion EV, even though CarExpert noted that petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains and a seven-seat configuration are available overseas. PerthNow repeated the same certification details and described the vehicle as the only Wuling model so far certified for sale in Australia. Both reports identified the vehicle as a mid-size crossover SUV. sourceIds s2 s8 ¹²

CarExpert said the Eksion is already produced in right-hand drive in Indonesia, and that PT SGMW Motor Indonesia, SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Indonesian arm, confirmed in 2024 it planned to explore exporting vehicles to Australia. Cars24 added that Wuling’s Indonesian-market version uses a 69.2kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and a front motor producing 150kW and 310Nm, with a quoted CLTC range of up to 530km. sourceIds s2 s14 ¹³

The Indonesian specification also places the Eksion at 4745mm long, 1850mm wide and 1755mm tall on a 2810mm wheelbase. CarExpert said that makes it 145mm longer, 5mm narrower and 70mm taller than a Toyota RAV4 on a 120mm longer wheelbase. sourceIds s2 s14 ¹³

Equipment and overseas specification

CarExpert said the Eksion EV rides on 18-inch alloy wheels with MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, and features an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster plus a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Its reporting also said higher-spec Indonesian-market equipment can include a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate and ventilated front seats. Cars24 said the Indonesian EV also carries safety and driver-assistance equipment including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring. sourceIds s2 s14 ¹³

Both reports said the PHEV version combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a 145kW electric motor and a 20.5kWh LFP battery. CarExpert said the PHEV is claimed to deliver 125km of CLTC electric range, while Cars24 said Wuling also claims more than 1000km of combined CLTC range. sourceIds s2 s14 ¹³

Brand context and the road to Australia

CarExpert placed Wuling within a broader SAIC-GM history, saying the brand began vehicle manufacturing in 1984 and the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture was formed in 2002. PerthNow added that Wuling says it has grown to a presence in more than 60 countries and that its Indonesian subsidiary commenced operations in 2017. sourceIds s2 s8 ¹²

The same reporting pointed to Wuling’s broader export model mix, including Chevrolet-badged exports in some overseas markets, while noting that in Indonesia it sells under its own brand. That context matters because the Australian filing concerns a Wuling-badged vehicle rather than one of GM’s premium SAIC-GM exports, and because GM ANZ has now explicitly ruled out importing or distributing it through its existing local operation. sourceIds s2 s8 ¹²