GWM Haval to drop petrol and diesel by 2030

GWM Haval has announced its intention to only produce electrified vehicles as of 2030, and for battery-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles account for 80 per cent of its global sales by 2025.

The Chinese brand’s phrasing for zero- and low-emission vehicles is ‘new energy vehicles’, or NEVs, and they are quickly taking off across the Chinese auto industry as car-makers in the world’s most populous nation turn their attention to developing cleaner powertrains.

Examples include BYD and Chery, both of which are hoping to steal market share from both GWM and MG, especially where electrification is concerned.

GWM Haval’s announcement was made at its New Energy Strategy Conference earlier this week, when GWM president Mu Feng said Chinese auto companies would “usher in an opportunity unseen in a century” and that the brand’s New Energy strategy marks the start of its journey to being “SUV king”.

As we already know, Australia is lagging behind many advanced automotive markets in its uptake of electrified vehicles and so it could be some time before GWM Haval’s NEV sales goals are realised here, especially given key plug-in hybrid models like the Haval H6 and H6 GT PHEVs are yet to be given the greenlight.

Still, GWM Haval Australia does offer H6 hybrid and, soon, Jolion hybrid models, and the GWM Ora electric sub-brand is inching closer towards its local launch.

A new logo design (new font) was also debuted at the conference in line with GWM’s New Energy strategy, serving as a visual reminder of the changing times.

For everything you auto know about EVs, listen to carsales' Watts Under the Bonnet: the electric car podcast

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