JAKARTA - Great Wall Motors (GWM) has confirmed that it will not develop vehicles with a range-extender powertrain as part of its technology strategy going forward. This attitude was delivered in conjunction with the global launch of GWM's latest One automotive platform in January 2026.
Launching from Carnewschina, Monday, December 19, the platform was presented as a new generation vehicle architecture that is capable of supporting various types of powertrains. This announcement also clarifies GWM's electrification direction in expanding its product line in the global market.
Great Wall Motors President Mu Feng explained that the company did not see range-extender technology as an ideal solution. According to him, the development path does not present any significant technical obstacles, but it has fundamental weaknesses compared to direct-drive solutions, especially in driving conditions that require high efficiency.
Mu Feng explained that the range-extender system works by relying on an internal combustion engine to generate electricity, which then passes through a number of control modules before finally driving the motor and being converted back into mechanical energy in the wheels.
Where, the long energy transmission chain is said to end in layered efficiency losses, especially when vehicles travel at medium to high speeds. Based on internal company testing, the range-extender system is claimed to be at least 13 percent less efficient than the direct-drive system in this scenario.
Mu Feng also called this approach a shortcut from a technical point of view and a compromise on the essence of mobility. He emphasized that GWM would not make vehicles with range-enhancing technology.
On the other hand, GWM also officially introduced GWM One, which is claimed to be the world's first artificial intelligence-based full-drive automotive platform. This platform is designed to be flexible to accommodate various drive technologies, ranging from fuel cell EVs, internal combustion engines, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid vehicles, to plug-in hybrids.
GWM One supports dual motor configurations on the front and rear axles, cross-model modular design, and intelligent torque vector control. Through this platform, GWM also states that their Hi4 hybrid technology has been improved.
In terms of hardware, the platform is divided into 49 core modules, including engines, transmissions, and batteries as well as 329 common components that allow for flexible configuration according to model requirements. The software is also modular, with AI support that combines more than 300 reusable functional units for various use scenarios.
For pure electric vehicle applications, GWM said the platform supports an electric architecture of up to 900 volts, combined with high-speed battery cells. Its charging capacity is claimed to have a peak of more than 600 kilowatts, and supports bidirectional external power release.
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