Haval plots hybrid electric future in Oz

Haval is accelerating the development of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and all-electric models following a $5b investment in upcoming sub-brand Ora.

The brand will assist Haval in meeting state-imposed mandates around zero and low-emissions vehicles. By law, any vehicle manufacturer producing in excess of 300,000 units annually is required to electrify 10 per cent of its range by 2019 and 12 per cent by 2020. The percentage will continue to rise annually.

The Chinese government is so serious in addressing its emissions limits that it has set a carbon emissions cap of 50 per cent by 2025, and 100 per cent by 2030 - for the entire country. It's a target it has backed with a $380b investment in alternative energy, a portion of which Haval's state-owned parent company, Great Wall, will in turn invest in electrified vehicles.

"As a Chinese company we're going to get those products here [in Australia]," said Haval Australia public relations and product planning manager, Andrew Ellis.

"By 2022 electrified models will account for approximately 30 per cent of range sales locally. This also means a number of new-generation platforms [will be introduced], and in 2020 we will see a new H2, H6 and H7 as well."

Ellis said the brand was also seeking to import the recently-launched P8 plug-in hybrid. The mid-size SUV combines a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor on each axle and six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It offers combined system power of 250kW/520Nm, can fully charge in four hours and has a combined range of 660km.

In China, the P8 is sold under the Wey brand, Haval's new China-only luxury brand. In its first year of production the P8 sold 86,000 units - 36,000 more than expected.

"We'll keep asking for it," Ellis said. "We'd like a mix of PHEV and EV models in our local line-up."

He just might get his wish. Haval has recently announced that it will export to New Zealand and South Africa, the addition of two more right-hand drive markets boosting demand for right-hook products. Haval's export sales are up 125 per cent year-on-year.

The manufacturer has also invested in R&D centres in India and the US, where it is looking to expand, while simultaneously recruiting big-name automotive engineers that include ex-Getrag transmission specialist, Gerhard Henning; former Volkswagen dynamics engineer, Alan Cureton; past Toyota head of engineering, Suguya Fukusato (responsible for HiLux and Prado); and previous Lexus head of product planning, Samuel Chen.

The dynamic team will be in Australia next month to get a better understanding of local conditions.

Last year Haval sold more than a million SUVs globally (1,070,161), and was the sales leader in its home market. The H6 was the top seller with 506,418 units - which made it the biggest-selling SUV in China overall - while the smaller H2 sold 215,100 units, ranking in eighth place.

In Australia last year the brand sold just 710 units, up 150 per cent on 2016. The H6 was the best-seller with 108 units.

Haval has also launched its updated H9 in Australia and you can read our H9 review here.