Great Wall Motor

Great Wall wants to scale heights no Chinese brand has before, setting its sights on the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux with its all-new dual-cab ute. UPDATE: The story has been updated with details about towing capacity and more detailed power outputs, following clarification from Great Wall.

Haval is weighing its future SUV plans in Australia, as it prepares for a new wave of right-hand drive product arriving from China in 2021. The current H2, H6 and H9 line-up looks likely to be bolstered by some combination of the F7, coupe-style F7X, and H6 model ranges currently offered in China. Exactly which remains to be seen, as the company works out an approach that’ll help it cut through in Australia’s overcrowded SUV market.

Great Wall hasn't exactly hit its straps in Australia since it re-launching with factory distribution. The Steed ute range scored poorly in crash tests, and hasn't racked up sales to match its Chinese rival, the LDV T60 – a ute currently with more demand than supply. However, the next-generation ute premiering in 2019/20 as an intended Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger rival will be far, far more convincing based on discussions we've been having with company staffers in Beijing.

Update (16 October 2017): Great Wall Motor Company has issued a statement in response to rumours of a potential tie-up with BMW. See bottom of article for details. German luxury marque BMW is looking into a business venture with Chinese manufacturer Great Wall to produce electric vehicles, according to a new report. Two unnamed sources "familiar with the matter" told Reuters thatBMW is "in discussions" with Great Wall regarding the production of vehicles in the Chinese province of Changshu.