Global GWM models will use Aussie dynamic tuning

Stand by to spot more camouflaged GWM prototypes rolling along local roads.

That’s because the Chinese auto giant’s new Australian engineering centre, run by former Holden handling hero Rob Trubiani, is set to have an international influence on the driving characteristics of future GWM vehicles.

While the details of the process and integration are still to be finalised, GWM’s global tech chief James Yang has confirmed the key role Trubiani and the new Aussie outpost will play.

“Moving forward more of our vehicles will be tuned in Australia and applied to other regions too,” Yang told Australian media at a roundtable during the Shanghai motor show.

Not only will Trubiani be involved in ride and handling tuning but also in getting GWM’s often boisterous and intrusive driver assist systems to behave themselves.

Since joining GWM Australia in April, Trubiani has been familiarising himself with the various models sold here under the Cannon, Haval, Ora and Tank sub-brands, and will no doubt have his hands full with up to 15 new models launching in Australia before the end of 2026.

He is also in daily contact with GWM’s China-based engineering team as the Australian outpost gets involved earlier and deeper into the new model development process.

It means GWM models will be subject to local testing earlier in their development phase.

The push to localise GWMs sold in Australia has been campaigned for by local management for a while now and led by managing director Charles Zhao.

The local tuning division was announced in February shortly after new chief operating officer John Kett joined GWM from a similar position at Hyundai Australia. Trubiani was announced in March.

Hyundai Australia built a lot of its local success on the back of its local chassis tuning program, although these days it provides input into global tunes used for most models.

Korean sister brand Kia meantime continues to localise the ride and handling tunes of virtually all its models.

Holden made a big deal of its expertise in tuning for Australian conditions, and Trubiani was one of the key players in that.

Back at GWM, some local tuning has already been conducted on local vehicles with some success, which is in turn encouraging this expansion.

Before Trubiani’s arrival, that local tuning effort took the form of engineers from GWM China spending time in Australia and coming to terms with the local conditions as well as buyer needs, such as towing, and taking that knowledge back to China to be incorporated in the production specification on the assembly line.

“As we know, China ride and handling preference is very different to Australia,” Yang said.

“Previously, we tuned the Cannon in Australia, and that tune has been applied to Thailand and it was very well received.

“Charles [Zhao] has been pushing along to have the engineering process being brought forward in Australia, so getting our Australian input and our involvement a lot earlier compared to [how it is] now.

“At the moment, we're talking about minimum six months in advance that the cars are [coming].”

Kett told Australian media at the same roundtable that ride and handling presented an opportunity for GWM to differentiate itself from other Chinese brands.

“We will always be a very accessible brand when it comes to price and affordability,” he said.

“What we need to do is stake out our own claim in terms of what does the GWM ride and drive feel like?

“We're incredibly excited about another key component that allows GWM not only to grow, [but] can I say elevate itself above the other Chinese bands by presenting something that no one else is doing.”

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