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News - Market Insight - Market Insight 2026Market Insight: GWM clocks 250K sales in AusQuarter-million sales milestone for GWM in Australia on way to a top-five spot by 202724 Aug 2026 By MATT BROGAN GWM has passed 250,000 vehicle sales in Australia as the rapidly expanding Chinese manufacturer continues its push towards becoming a top five brand locally by 2027.
The milestone follows GWM's record-breaking June 2026 sales result and arrives as the company embarks on its largest Australian product offensive to date, with nine new and updated models scheduled for launch over the coming months.
GWM marked its 250,000th sale with the delivery of a Flamingo Pink Ora 5 electric SUV to Melbourne primary school art teacher Louise Johnson through Werribee GWM.
The milestone reflects the accelerating growth of a brand that has evolved from a niche importer into a significant player in the Australian new-vehicle market, with products spanning the Haval, Tank, Cannon, and Ora nameplates.
According to VFACTS data, the trajectory is remarkable. The company first appeared in Australian sales figures in 2009 under the Great Wall name, selling 1907 vehicles through importer Ateco Automotive.
Early momentum saw volumes climb to a peak of 11,006 in 2012, but a sharp retreat followed and by 2015 sales had collapsed to just 142 units as the brand spent more than a year in limbo due to a dispute between importer and manufacturer.
The turnaround began with the local introduction of the Haval sub-brand in 2016 and accelerated sharply after a corporate consolidation brought all nameplates under the GWM banner in 2021.
In its first year as GWM, the company delivered 18,384 sales in Australia, more than triple the combined Great Wall and Haval tally of 5235 the year before.
Annual volumes have risen steeply since, reaching 25,042 units in 2022, 36,397 in 2023, 42,782 in 2024 and 52,809 in 2025.
It took GWM 12 years to sell its first 50,000 vehicles in Australia but the next 50,000 took barely two. It is now on track to exceed 60,000 sales in 2026 alone.
GWM Australia chief operating officer John Kett said the result demonstrated growing customer confidence in the brand as it expands its local product portfolio.
"Two hundred and fifty thousand sales is a significant achievement for any brand, but what means the most to us is who that number represents," he said.
"Louise is exactly the kind of customer we set out to win over, someone who wasn't necessarily considering GWM a few months ago, but who found a vehicle that suited her lifestyle, her values and, in this case, even her classroom. Customers like Louise are the reason milestones like this matter.
"We're incredibly proud of how far the brand has come, and with a strong pipeline of new models still to launch this year, including the Cannon Hi4-T Plug-in Hybrid and our new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel variants, this is a milestone along the way rather than the finish line.
"What's particularly exciting is how quickly these milestones are now arriving. Each one has come faster than the last, reflecting the momentum we've built through better products, stronger dealer partners and growing customer confidence. That's what a genuine climb towards a top five position looks like."
Australian GWM sales to the end of July were 34,877 units, up 16.6 per cent on the same period in 2025 and earning seventh place on the national leaderboard.
GWM is supporting its expansion with continued investment in its national dealer network and local engineering and validation program, while broadening its range of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and internal combustion vehicles.
GWM says the Ora 5 is part of that expansion and is targeting customers including first-time EV buyers as GWM seeks to broaden its reach beyond the SUV and utility segments in which it has established much of its Australian presence.
Ms Johnson said her new Ora 5 had already attracted considerable attention at the Melbourne primary school where she teaches art.
"My students noticed it in the car park on day one and haven't stopped talking about it since," she said.
"They love the colour and the fact that it's electric. It's become a real talking point around the art room."
Ms Johnson was presented with the milestone vehicle at a handover attended by representatives from GWM Australia and Werribee GWM.
GWM said its accelerating sales milestones reflected increasing customer acceptance of the brand as it works towards its stated ambition of becoming one of Australia's five highest-selling automotive marques by 2027.
On 2026 year-to-date figures, the brand sits behind Toyota, BYD, Ford, Kia, Mazda and Hyundai, with GWM a distant sixth behind Hyundai’s 45,581 YTD sales.
The company's forthcoming product rollout includes the Cannon Hi4-T plug-in hybrid and new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel variants, alongside further new and updated models scheduled to arrive before the end of 2026.  Read more31st of July 2026  GWM opens order books for new 620Nm dieselImminent debut for new 3.0-litre turbo-diesel as GWM targets towing, touring buyers3rd of July 2026  GWM plots biggest Aussie model assault yetNine new models, five powertrain types, Wey premium brand to spearhead top five sales push3rd of July 2026  GWM Ora 5 SUV priced for successSmall SUV brings 435km range, 150kW motor, high equipment levels to budget EV segment |
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