GWM Hi4 hybrid 4WD wins national engineering award, first hybrid to earn top honour in China
Great Wall Motor’s Hi4 hybrid four-wheel-drive system has received a National Engineering Award in China, marking the first time a hybrid technology has earned the country’s top recognition in automotive engineering, as reported by Sina. The award, granted by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE-China) and authorised by national science authorities, reflects increasing attention to hybrid systems within China’s automotive sector.
This is the first time in more than 30 years that the top prize has been awarded to a hybrid technology project. According to the organisers, the selection was reviewed by an expert committee led by academician Li Jun.
GWM describes its Hi4 (Hybrid Intelligent Four-Wheel-Drive) platform as an original architecture designed to enable four-wheel drive through a dual-motor hybrid configuration, addressing limitations previously associated with traditional series-parallel layouts. The Hi4 system forms the basis of a scalable family of hybrid architectures intended for different vehicle sizes and use cases. The company has also developed the Hi4-T, which it describes as China’s first single-motor 9-speed parallel hybrid four-wheel-drive system, aimed at off-road applications.
According to GWM, the system incorporates a twin-VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) setup capable of high-temperature operation, along with a high-efficiency combustion system. The company claims these components allow its 3.0-litre turbocharged engine to achieve what it describes as “world-leading thermal efficiency” for a large-displacement powertrain.
The Hi4 technology family has been granted 122 patents and contributed to the development of nine national standards in China, covering hybrid power systems, battery safety, and all-terrain vehicle performance.
As of September 2025, GWM’s global sales have surpassed 923,000 units for the year, with a significant portion attributed to its Hi4-equipped models. Notably, the Tank 400 Hi4-T variant sold 2,805 units in September 2025. Vehicles using the Hi4 platform have been exported to 19 markets, including Australia and New Zealand.
The recognition by SAE-China places GWM among domestic manufacturers whose hybrid technologies have received formal national-level awards. According to the company, it continues to expand the Hi4 product range across SUVs and off-road models in both Chinese and overseas markets.
