GWM investigates Cannon Alpha 3.0 production issue

GWM Australia has confirmed it is following up reports that supplies of the new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel version of the Cannon Alpha ute are about to dry up.

The report, by the Facebook site Forbidden Gearhouse, says production of the new 3.0 version of the Cannon Alpha has been stopped in China because of a shortage of seating components.

Citing unnamed sources in Australia and China, the Forbidden Gearhouse post says current Australian stock is all that’s available until March or April 2027, with the possibility of a handful of 3.0 Cannon Alphas arriving in Australia before the end of 2026.

The report states the assembly line could now be repurposed to produce the new Haval H7 medium SUV that has just been launched in Australia.

GWM Australia marketing and communications chief Steve Maciver acknowledged awareness of the post and confirmed information was being sought from China.

“Something we're looking into, something we're getting the right information on, and something, if we can confirm the information, we'll confirm in due course,” Maciver said.

“We are working through a number of conversations with the factory about a number of things about availability. That is something we're discussing, but we don't have a full picture yet.”

The Cannon Alpha 3.0 replaces the old 2.4-litre engine and is sold in three variants – Lux, Ultra and Vanta – priced between $56,990 and $61,990.

Maciver insisted there was ongoing supply availability of the Cannon Alpha 3.0.

“I'm happy to be on the record addressing the point that Forbidden Gearhouse has said: We've got supply of 3.0-litre turbo-diesel today. We've got supply coming and we're confident we've got supply to last the coming months.”

The Tank 500 large SUV, which has also just launched with the new engine, is not impacted by the issue.

GWM Australia is working to establish the situation and will then inform its dealer group before making any relevant information public.

Whatever the situation, it will undoubtedly want it resolved quickly as the new engine has proved popular since its mid-September arrival in dealers.

Maciver said it was claiming 50 per cent of Cannon Alpha sales and 70 per cent of Tank 500 sales.

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