GWM UTE News

If you think you’re seeing a lot more new utes with unfamiliar badges on them, you’re probably not alone.The arrival of new utes from predominantly Chinese brands like the 2026 MG U9, JAC T9 and of course the BYD Shark 6 might seem sudden, but those in the industry have been familiar with many of the seemingly new models for years.Don’t fret, though, we ran the numbers to see just how speedy the rise in new Chinese utes landing in Australia has been, because while the models themselves have been around for a while, some of them have become much more popular lately.In fact, you’re really not just imagining it - a few years ago the number of Chinese utes arriving annually doubled. Over the past decade, the total number of Chinese utes sold in Australia over a year has gone from less than 1000 to almost 40,000.And while the total number of utes sold each year overall also rose, from 190,000 to 235,000 over the same time, you don’t have to be a mathematician to see the massive increase in market share for Chinese brands.Years ago, Great Wall (now GWM) was laying the groundwork, building a more reliable reputation over time and learning how discerning many Aussie ute buyers can be. Anecdotally, early Great Wall utes were hated by mechanics, but GWM now has more than 120 dealers and a seven-year warranty.By the mid-2010s, things were improving, Great Wall utes and the Foton Tunland were still really the only Chinese utes here, racking up annual sales in the hundreds and making up less than 0.5 per cent of the new ute market.In the first couple of years of the 2020s, LDV had arrived and was doing much of the heavy lifting while GWM was in a lull before new generation Cannon utes showed up.Through 2021 to 2024, Chinese utes made up around 6-8 per cent of the new ute market in Australia, though 4x2 utes didn’t follow the trend, with brands focusing on cracking the 4x4 market rather than fighting with the big players in the fleet space.This decade has seen the presence of Chinese utes rise from being sold in the hundreds or four-digit thousands to finally cracking and exceeding 10,000 sales comfortably each year, perhaps with the increasing cost-of-living pressure and subsiding mistrust of early Chinese utes from the ‘bad old days’.But 2025 was the year it really changed, and one name is responsible: Shark.Not Australia’s most storied golfer, but BYD’s plug-in hybrid ute. In 2024, 6.8 per cent of new utes sold in Australia were from Chinese brands - in 2025, that jumped up to 16 per cent.About 15,600 Chinese utes sold in 2024 versus just shy of 37,700 in 2025 comes thanks to the 18,000 new BYD Shark 6 utes bought by Australians in 2025. The total number of utes sold (across 4x2 and 4x4) in Australia didn’t even increase as much as the number of new sales the Shark 6 brought in, 229,219 sales in 2024 is only a few thousand less than the 235,614 sold in 2025.And it doesn’t seem to be slowing, with the Shark 6 performing well even into its second year on sale and helping maintain a 17.6 per cent market share for Chinese utes in the first two months of 2026. Even if BYD’s game-changer doesn’t maintain its place leading the Chinese ute charge, there’s a strong chance it continues to build upon the enthusiasm for the category built up by the likes of GWM.

Utes are Australia’s most popular type of vehicle, but which models offer the best resale value when the time comes to selling them? CarsGuide’s analytics team crunched the numbers so that we could bring you this exclusive report. 

The GWM Cannon is now a more serious contender than ever.

If you want a big beefy engine under the bonnet of your dual-cab, it might be now or never.

GWM has cleared the way for a beefed up version of its dual-cab ute.An updated version of the Ute Cannon has been approved for sale by the Federal Government with a new 2.4-litre turbocharged diesel engine and nine-speed automatic combination.Details lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts showed the new engine ups power to 135kW, but torque hasn’t been revealed.Overseas this engine pumps out 135kW and 480Nm, which is likely to carry over to Australia.The extra grunt elevates the Ute Cannon’s braked towing capacity from 3200kg to the benchmark 3500kg, matching rivals such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Kia Tasman and Isuzu D-Max.This new engine will only be available on top-end variants with four-wheel drive and a nine speed auto transmission.Cheaper variants maintain the current 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel motor that is fitted with either an eight-speed auto or six-speed manual transmission.The new engine is expected to be paired with a range of interior upgrades, too.This includes a 7.0-inch digital driver display, a 12.3-inch multimedia screen, in-built dash cam, redesigned centre console and wireless device charger.GWM has reportedly improved the cabin experience by vastly improving the sound insulation.It also has slightly revised styling with big GWM embossed lettering on the tailgate in place of the GWM badge.Expect to see the updated GWM Ute in dealerships early next year.The Ute’s 2.4-litre is one of the smaller capacity engines in the local ute market, but this is expected to become the norm as the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) takes effect next year. Car makers will be fined for every vehicle they sell that produces CO2 over a certain level. This CO2 threshold will get lower every year.Isuzu has just revealed a new 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine that is likely to replace the 3.0-litre unit currently powering top-end D-Max utes and MU-X 4WDs.Ford is rumoured to be dropping the bi-turbo diesel engine in favour of a single turbo unit found in the current entry-level Ranger.These moves are expected to help those vehicles avoid penalties for a few years and prolong their life in Australia.

The Australian Government has issued a recall notice affecting 2872 units of the GWM Ute Cannon sold from 2023 over concerns a manufacturing defect could lead to fuel leaks.A statement from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts said: “During the installation of the diesel fuel filter assembly, the incorrect lubricant type was used on the fuel filter sealing rubber ‘O-ring’.“As a result, the sealing may reduce over time, allowing fuel to leak from the filter housing. Fuel leak in the presence of an external ignition source could result in a vehicle fire.”The Department said vehicle fires can increase the risk of severe injury, death and property damage for vehicle occupants and bystanders.Owners of affected vehicles will be contacted by GWM in writing requesting they schedule an appointment at their nearest GWM dealer to have their vehicle's O-ring replaced, free of charge.Owners can see whether their vehicle is impacted by checking their VIN number here.

GWM upgrades its popular ute overseas, but there's no word yet on when its new engine and upgraded interior tech will launch in Australia.

I’ve road-tested 48 cars this year alone and I’ve seen the weird, the wonderful and everything in between. So, out of all of the cars I’ve been fortunate to be in, these were my favourites (in no particular order).

We've already looked at the top five most-powerful petrol cars under $80K and the five EVs offering the most power for your dollar, but now it's time for the diesels to shine and we've added a twist.

The launch of Ford’s latest-generation Ranger Raptor in September 2022 was greeted with a level of wild exuberance the likes of which I’ve never witnessed before.