China is buying Australia’s Iron Ore by the ship load and will soon be shipping it back to us in the form of a double cab ute. News has just come through that the first Chinese automotive brand to debut in Australia will be Great Wall Motor or GWM.
Sydney and Auckland based importer Ateco has announced that their plans to bring GWM to Australia and New Zealand are well ahead of projections and we should see the Chinese built light commercial arrive here in October this year, to be followed closely by a single cab variant and an entry level light car.
Ateco has been negotiating with GWM for almost three years. Strict confidentiality agreements have precluded Ateco from confirming that it has not only concluded negotiations but it also has been working on homologating the first GWM vehicle to be sold in Australia. GWM will debut with a double cab Ute that will retail for well under $20,000 in both Australia and New Zealand.
“The GWM double cab Ute will be just the start. The Ute will be followed soon after with a single cab Ute, a compact SUV and an entry level light car. Pricing will be comparable to similar Korean models with a significantly higher specification,” says Ric Hull, Managing Director, Ateco Automotive Pty Ltd.
GWM is one of China’s leading car makers and it has been consistently at the top of its domestic car market with its Ute and SUV models.
“From day one we have been thoroughly impressed with GWM. World class production facilities are becoming commonplace in China and there is no doubt that GWM has set the production benchmark. But what sets GWM apart is the corporate culture that permeates through the organisation. The company motto is ‘Improving little by little every day’ and from what we have seen the staff really do live and breathe this philosophy. Every time we go to GWM’s head office in Baoding, we are impressed by the progress that has been made since our last visit,” says Mr Hull.
Ateco plan to have a network of 50 dealers in place across Australia in time for the launch of GWM in October.
Full details, prices and specifications of the new GWM range will be announced when they go on sale in October.
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The ute looks like a Nissan at the front and a Rodeo at the back.
Wierd.
This car has the exact same dashboard and gauges as the holden rodeo and isuzu dmax. now we have 3 utes that look almost the same why bother. why cant chinese get their own designs and stop copy cating
what an ugly looking ute,styling looks are a disaster,i realise its early days but this ute better shape up a lot more otherwise noone will buy it !
i have only just seen this ute, and i was so impressed with the price i went and test drove one, and bought it. the equivalent hilux is priced in the mid 30k’s
Crash test results or bust.
Sure it’s cheap, but you’re dead if you have a bad accident. Oh- resale? Forget it! Ssanyong anyone?
great wall crash test results came out better than the ford ranger, oh and resale the less you spend the less you loose!!!
The Great Wall V240 & V220 utes have as standard equipment; a “hazard-warning triangle”, constructed to European/UN standard.
An excellent safety item that is mandatory in EU and ROC (As are ’safety vests’). It’s therefore *not* a junk item either, you don’t even get this primary safety item ‘as standard’, yet, in our domestic Aussie built stuff.
In the V240 ute; the warning triangle is located BEHIND the rear seat backrest. See the yellow label.
In the V220 ute; the warning triangle is located UNDER the rear seat!
http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/07/14/calls-for-improved-roadside-safety/
Test drove a V240 today and geez a week ago I would have bagged these !!
A great ute that drives well and is finished off inside and out as good as one could expect for a ute.
Mitsubishi engine, Borg Warner gear boxs, leaf rear springs and torsion frt suspension. Chassis rails etc all Rodeo from Isuzu factory.
Rear bumper is a bit flimsy but that will come off and a tow pack put on in its place with a rear chrome bar.
Good ute that goes well — that good I paid a deposit on one after i went and test drove a Ranger and triton. And good value if you get K Rudds 50% tax rebate !!!!!
Good Luck GWM hope you do well