GWM rules out diesel Tank 300 and Tank 500 for Australia

GWM Australia has no plans to introduce a diesel engine for its Tank 300 and Tank 500 4x4 off-road SUVs, despite a development program underway in China.

A spokesperson has told carsales today that the Australian subsidiary of the Chinese auto giant is aware of the diesel engine program, but insisted there were no current plans to offer a diesel in its burgeoning Tank line-up Down Under – despite diesel being the preferred engine type for Aussie buyers in the large 4x4 SUV segment.

The local arm has been buoyed by the response to the petrol and petrol-electric hybrid powerplants offered in the Tank 300, which has racked up 3380 sales (to the end of April 2024) since going on sale from mid-2023 after a false start earlier last year.

The Tank 500 has just reached showrooms, offered as a hybrid only for the time being. GWM sold 179 of them in April, the SUV’s first full month on sale.

As carsales has reported, GWM chairman Wei Jianjun confirmed earlier this week that the diesel engine program for the Tank 300 and other models was running full-steam ahead.

The engine is expected to be a development of the 135kW/480Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder as fitted under the bonnet of the new GWM Cannon Alpha ute.

This is favoured over the 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel found in the GWM Cannon Ute.

The Tank 300 is currently offered with either a 162kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine or a 255kW/648Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol-electric hybrid powertrain, while the Tank 500 is only available with the latter.

GWM Australia is concerned a diesel engine would complicate the local line-up and that it would also negatively impact the company with the looming New Vehicle Emissions Standard (NVES) that comes into force from January 1, 2025, despite GWM having a range of hybrid and battery-electric models across its full stable to offset any penalties a diesel Tank might attract.

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