Even cheaper GWM Cannon dual-cab coming

The revamped GWM Cannon dual-cab 4x4 ute range will soon add a new price leader below $40,000, as well as revive the cab-chassis.

But there will be no return of the slow-selling 4x2 Cannon, even though the brand has elevated monthly sales ambitions to 1000-plus units.

And down the track there is every chance the Cannon line-up will be bolstered by a plug-in hybrid, using the same Hi4T tech the Cannon Alpha will add in Australia in April.

The prospect of a fully electric Cannon remains dim, however.

In 2024, GWM Cannon sales slumped despite cut-price deals that dropped to $31,990 for the old 4x2.

The new four-model range introduced this week starts at $40,490 drive away for the Cannon Luxury 4x4 dual-cab ute.

While they are all powered by the 2.4-litre/nine-speed auto drivetrain already seen in Australia in the larger Cannon Alpha, the sub-$40K base model dual-cab dubbed Premium will retain the old 2.0-litre turbo-diesel drivetrain.

While it will be cheaper up front, the older engine has 15kW less power, 80Nm less torque and averages 1L/100km higher fuel consumption at 9.4L/100km than the 2.4-litre engine.

“The focus for launch has been the 2.4-litre dual-cab but we are adding with the existing 2.0-litre engine a Premium base-model dual-cab that will come in a couple of months’ time,” said GWM Australia marketing and communications chief, Steve Maciver.

“That will reduce the entry price even further. It’s not a huge part of our model mix, it never has been. But as a price leader it’s valuable.

“It does give us fleet opportunity as well. Fleet is a huge opportunity for us with this car. We have probably been underdone with fleet and we’ll pursue that aggressively in 2025.”

The cab-chassis will also be back within two months fitted standard as before with a tray. There will be only a single spec based on the Lux grade powered by the 2.4-litre engine.

The 4x2 – which has always been a small seller for Cannon – disappeared late last year and won’t be coming back.

The Cannon is one of the three cornerstones of GWM Australia’s sales growth along with the Haval H6 and Jolion SUVs.

GWM entered the top 10 in 2024 with a record 42,782 sales and has ambitions to reach the top five within the next few years.

Around 33,000 Cannons have been sold since its launch in 2021. In 2024 there were 7976 4x4 Cannons sold versus 9363 in 2023 as it aged and rival utes updated.

The boost to a minimum 1000 sales per month is one of the key drivers of a GWM Australia push to 50,000 sales or beyond in 2025.

If both targets are achieved, Cannon will rise from 19 per cent of GWM’s total to 24 per cent.

GWM Australia is very likely to add electrified Cannons to the line-up, but the brand plans to keep orthodox diesel at the core of the range for as long as possible under Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

The NVES is designed to strangle ICE powertrains via steadily decreasing CO2 limits and handing out severe fines for exceeding them. It is intended to encourage the uptake of low- and especially zero-emissions vehicles. Credits are handed out to brands that undercut the CO2 limit.

GWM Australia is confident its value pricing and strong PHEV model mix across its wide line-up will allow it to absorb potential fines its diesel Cannons accrue and keep them in the line-up.

Even if pricing goes up it will still be able to undercut the established ute makers, which are priced much higher.

Read our full NVES explainer for more details.

Asked about the prospects for hybrid, PHEV and EV Cannon, Maciver said GMW remained open-minded.

“All three of those powertrain options are not on the plan officially that we can announce right now, but all three are absolutely possible,” he said.

“You’ve got to keep in mind the Cannon is built on a Tank platform with which we are introducing hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all that kind of stuff.

“EV? There has been development happening with EV on the platform for a number of years. That hasn’t moved any further as far as I am aware.

“Certainly, there is a distinct possibility we will see plug-in hybrid in the not-too-distant future.”

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