China's new answer to the BYD Atto 3 and Chery Omoda E5! GWM earmarks Xiaolong prototype electric car for potential future in Australia at Shanghai

2025 Haval Xiaolong BEV prototype (Image: Tom White)

This prototype battery electric vehicle appears likely to plug a small SUV-sized hole in GWM's line-up.

The vehicle, which was described on internal documents seen by CarsGuide as the “Xiaolong”, is roughly the same size as a Haval Jolion, Hyundai Kona or Toyota Corolla Cross. It does have more of a coupe-style roofline and a closed-off face like many of its small electric SUV contemporaries.

Inside, it features much of the same design and switchgear as the current Jolion, with largely the same centre console fittings and even the same digital instrument panel. The overall shape of the dashboard is different, with a significantly larger multimedia screen and the same three-spoke steering wheel featured in the upcoming Haval H6 facelift.

Read More About GWM Haval Jolion

It also runs more recent version of the brand’s “Coffee OS” software suite on its main screen, but not its instrument cluster.

The prototype vehicle was clearly incomplete, but it was driveable, and had relatively impressive power and handling. CarsGuide was granted a very brief test drive of the vehicle at low speeds.

It is likely this is a test mule for a future model to sit underneath the larger mid-size Xiaolong Max, which has been on sale in China for some time, and has been hinted at by GWM’s Australian representatives as a future replacement for the H6 mid-size SUV currently sold in Australia.

The smaller Xiaolong electric vehicle may be a necessary addition for GWM as Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) bites down in the latter part of the decade.

2025 Haval Xiaolong BEV prototype (Image: Tom White)

The brand’s local communications boss, Steve Maciver, said the brand is “well positioned” to handle the NVES for the time being, although he also previously said GWM would need more plug-in hybrids and battery electrics as the decade progressed.

A sharply-priced electric offering, such as this Xiaolong prototype, in the hotly-contested small SUV segment is necessary for the brand in the long run.

@carsguide.com.au Is this Haval's Jolion EV before you're meant to see it? #gwm #gwmhaval #havaljolion #ev #car #carsguide #fyp ♬ original sound - CarsGuide.com.au

For the rest of 2025, GWM will roll-out several new models, including the H6 facelift and the new H7 which serves as a soft-roader spin-off, as well as a plug-in hybrid version of the Tank 500.

GWM has promised big things for 2026 and beyond, so stay tuned to see if those plans include a version of this battery electric car.