GWM Wey G9 people-mover approved for Australia, but there’s a surprise
Luxury Denza rival still launching in 2026, but there’s been a change of planThe News
GWM’s new premium Wey brand is set to make its Australian debut before the end of 2026, with the seven-seat G9 people mover approved for sale with both plug-in hybrid and conventional hybrid power.
The Key Details
- GWM Wey G9 approved for Australian sale
- Seven-seat luxury people mover due before the end of 2026
- 325kW AWD PHEV joined by surprise 263kW AWD hybrid
- Original Australian Wey strategy was PHEV-only
- SUVs such as V9X and V8X expected to broaden the Wey range in 2027
The Finer Details
Wey will join the Tank, Haval, Cannon and Ora brands in GWM’s expanding Australian stable. It is intended to rival BYD’s luxury brand, Denza.
Australian Government certification documents reveal the G9 has cleared a key regulatory hurdle with two all-wheel-drive powertrains – a 325kW PHEV and a surprise 263kW HEV.
The conventional hybrid represents a significant change from GWM’s original plan to launch Wey in Australia exclusively with plug-in hybrid powertrains.
While the G9 will be the first Wey sold locally, the relatively small Australian people-mover market means its arrival is expected to be a low-key affair ahead of a much bigger expansion in 2027.
Known as the Gaoshan in China and sold under names including Wey 80 in some export markets, the G9 measures 5055mm long, 1985mm wide and 1925mm high, and comes with a substantial 3085mm wheelbase.
It is configured as a seven-seater and will be positioned against other premium people-movers, including the Denza D9.
The G9 PHEV combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with front and rear electric motors and a six-speed DHT transmission driving all four wheels. The RVD lists the PHEV system at 325kW.
The PHEV has a 2759kg tare mass and 3355kg gross vehicle mass. The Australian certification currently lists both braked and unbraked towing capacities at zero.
Meanwhile, the HEV homologated for Australia uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with electric assistance, all-wheel drive and a six-speed DHT transmission. Its RVD output is 263kW.
At 2504kg tare, it is 255kg lighter than the PHEV and is approved to tow 1500kg braked and 750kg unbraked.
The Road Ahead
GWM initially targeted a mid-2026 introduction for Wey, but the brand is unlikely to receive high-profile promotion until the range starts adding SUVs in 2027.
Central to that should be the large V9X, a six-seat flagship SUV developed on GWM’s new One platform, while the slightly smaller V8X is another potential Australian addition. The V8X has already been revealed overseas as a five-seat battery-electric derivative of the V9X.
Australian pricing and detailed specifications for the G9 are still to be announced, although GWM previously indicated Wey pricing would remain well below $100,000.
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