The reason for Chinese carmakers' success: GWM Tank 500 and Cannon Alpha quick updates shows how new brands are grinding their way to the top | Analysis

Chinese carmakers are on the march, with sales growing globally and in Australia.

GWM is one of the most successful Down Under with its growing portfolio of vehicles under the GWM, GWM Haval and GWM Tank brands.

The carmaker’s sales are up 19 per cent through the first 11 months of this year, with a total of almost 39,000.

That’s good enough to be the 10th most popular brand in the nation this year and above long established mainstream players such as Subaru and Volkswagen.

GWM launched the Cannon Alpha ute and Tank 500 large four-wheel drive just months ago, but has already announced a raft of updates based on customer and media feedback.

That kind of lightning quick response to market feedback is what is helping drive the brand’s success. It is making its product better, quicker than its rivals can.

The company has turned down the sensitivity and warnings for its driver safety aids for both models, making them less annoying, easier to operate and better suited to Australian tastes.

It has fixed some headaches with its adaptive cruise control, where it doesn’t respond with the accelerator quick enough that results in a big gap forming with the car in front.

It has also turned down the impact of its cornering function in the cruise control that often resulted in the car slowing down unnecessarily.

The Cannon Alpha ute has had a tow hitch guideline added to the reversing camera.

It has also improved the throttle response. The brand said some feedback was: “the Alpha does not feel like 255kW and 648Nm”.

Now it should have improved pick-up-and-go.

Another big complaint was for “engine runaway”. This occurs after heavy throttle application with the vehicle still accelerating after the driver has lifted off the pedal.

To combat this, GWM has lowered the rev hang and increased regenerative braking.

The company has also made changes to the Cannon Alpha’s Normal and Sport drive modes.

It has recalibrated it when switching from full electric drive to hybrid, reducing the lag experienced when this happened.

Sport mode’s throttle and engine response has been sharpened up, to better differentiate from the regular drive mode.

These changes made only months after launch will be implemented. GWM are grinding their way to the top in Australia by paying attention to the customers and what they want.

Now let’s see who else follows suit.