GWM Australia has started streamlining its product line by removing the gasoline-powered Haval H6 GT and the plug-in-free Tank 500 hybrid. This step was taken after the launch of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, which is now the main focus of the manufacturer.
GWM Australia product planning manager Tim Leong said production of the gasoline version of the H6 GT will be discontinued in China this month. Meanwhile, the non-plug-in Tank 500 hybrid has also entered the final phase of production, ahead of the arrival of the non-hybrid diesel variant that will complement the Tank 500 PHEV lineup.
According to Leong, the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) policy is one of the main reasons behind the elimination of the H6 GT gasoline variant. In addition, there are also limitations from the factory to improve the latest specifications on the plug-in hybrid model.
In the Australian market, the 500 hybrid tank will be replaced by two new options, namely a PHEV gasoline engine and a non-hybrid diesel engine. This diesel variant is scheduled to launch in mid-2026, including for the Cannon Alpha pickup model which is still on the same platform.
Launching from Drive, Tuesday, May 5, as the NVES rules that will take effect from January 1, 2027 are tightened, GWM is also evaluating the future of the pure gasoline-powered Haval H6 when the latest generation of the model launches in Australia early next year.
Currently, the gasoline variant of the Haval H6 still accounts for around 50 percent of sales, while the rest comes from hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. However, the Drive report states that the contribution of electrified vehicles in the Haval H6 line has continued to increase in recent months, driven by rising fuel prices.
The latest model, the GWM Haval H6 GT Ultra PHEV 2026 launched last month in Australia, comes with a number of updates. Starting from the Hi4 all-wheel drive system, a larger infotainment screen with the latest software, an updated center console design, a new steering wheel, to an integrated telematics system.
GWM Australia itself has signaled since October 2025 that it will consider discontinuing the "no plug" variant for the Tank 500, in conjunction with the launch of the PHEV version. One of the compromises of the Tank 500 PHEV is the five-passenger configuration due to the use of high-voltage batteries, unlike the non-plug-in hybrid and diesel versions which offer seven seats.
For the upcoming diesel variant, the Tank 500 will be equipped with the latest 3.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine without a hybrid system, which is capable of producing 170 kW of power and 620 Nm of torque. The figure is claimed to exceed the power of the Toyota Prado and the torque of the Ford Everest V6.
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