China’s Great Wall Motors to double-down on hybrid cars in Australia

China’s Great Wall Motors is poised to double-down on hybrid car sales in Australia – as the company reveals it is working on new technology which will deliver better fuel efficiency.

While Toyota hybrid technology typically halves fuel consumption – and halves emissions – other hybrid systems from rival vehicle manufacturers are not as efficient.

As previously reported, Subaru and Mazda hybrid cars offer negligible – if any – fuel economy improvements. 

And GWM Haval cars tested by Drive have only trimmed about 25 per cent off fuel consumption compared to similar vehicles.

MORE: GWM plans hybrid and electric car expansion for Australia

“More improvements are coming, we are evolving quickly,” a spokesperson for GWM Haval told Drive during a recent media briefing.

“Toyota is on its fifth generation of hybrid technology over 20 years. We have been working on hybrid technology since 2010.

“The hybrid systems in GWM cars we have in Australia today – Haval Jolion and Haval H6 – are our first-generation hybrid cars.

“We are already working on the second-generation (of hybrid technology) and expect to roll it out by end of 2024. A third-generation hybrid system is in development as well.”

Representatives for GWM Haval in Australia say hybrid vehicles will become an increasingly important part of the company's local line-up.

“If you look at the mix of … hybrid in our Haval SUV range today, it's already at 30 per cent. Those cars have been on sale less than a year,” said a GWM Haval spokesperson.

“I would argue that within a year to 18 months, petrol-electric hybrid is going to be outselling (petrol-only vehicles) within our Haval range. And … other model ranges will extend from there.”

More than 70 per cent of Toyota RAV4 SUVs sold in Australia are hybrid variants – more than twice the ratio the company forecast – as waiting times stretch up to two years.