GWM will use Everything Electric in Sydney to give Australian buyers their first public look at two new plug-in hybrid models, expanding its electrified offering into both the SUV and dual-cab ute segments.
Both models represent the next stage in GWM’s expansion of its New Energy Vehicle portfolio, with plug-in hybrid technology increasingly giving fleet operators another pathway between conventional combustion vehicles and fully electric models.
Haval H7 adds rugged PHEV option
The Haval H7 will sit alongside the established H6 range but introduce a more rugged design direction for the brand’s Australian SUV line-up.
Known as the Haval Raptor in China, the H7 features a more upright, boxy exterior designed to give it a stronger adventure-focused character than GWM’s existing Haval SUVs.
For Australian buyers, the significant development will be the powertrain.
GWM has confirmed the H7 will use its Hi4 intelligent hybrid four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid system, combining electrified driving with four-wheel-drive capability.
For fleets, that combination could broaden the appeal of plug-in hybrids beyond passenger and urban applications, particularly where organisations require SUVs capable of handling regional travel, unsealed roads or mixed operational duties.
Detailed Australian specifications, electric-only driving range, pricing and launch timing have not yet been announced.
Cannon PHEV expands electrified ute range
GWM will also reveal the Cannon Hi4-T PHEV, adding another electrified dual-cab to one of the most competitive areas of the Australian fleet market.
The new model will sit below the larger Cannon Alpha Hi4-T PHEV and extend plug-in hybrid technology further across the Cannon range.
GWM says the model has been developed to combine plug-in hybrid technology with the practicality and capability expected from a dual-cab ute.
That proposition will be particularly relevant for fleet operators assessing how electrification can be introduced into light commercial vehicle fleets without immediately moving to a battery-electric ute.
Plug-in hybrids can potentially provide electric driving for shorter daily journeys while retaining an internal combustion engine for longer distances, regional operations and applications where charging availability remains limited.
However, their fleet benefits depend heavily on vehicles being charged regularly and matched with suitable duty cycles.
More electrified choice for fleets
The arrival of the Haval H7 and Cannon PHEV highlights how manufacturers are increasingly using multiple powertrain technologies to expand their electrified portfolios rather than relying solely on battery-electric vehicles.
GWM says the two models form part of the continued expansion of its Australian vehicle range and its strategy to introduce electrified options across important market segments.
For fleet buyers, the Cannon PHEV will be particularly significant as manufacturers compete to provide lower-emission alternatives in the dual-cab ute category, where operational requirements have traditionally made electrification more challenging.
The all-new Haval H7 and Cannon Hi4-T PHEV will make their Australian public debuts at Everything Electric, being held at Sydney Olympic Park from 18–20 September 2026.
