During the pre-sales announcement of Great Wall Motor (GWM) sub-brand Wey‘s all-new V9X SUV, chairman Wei Jianjun claimed that rivals would need to learn lessons from the GWM One platform, or risk becoming uncompetitive and failing to expand into international markets.
The GWM One platform, which underpins the Wey V9X, represents the firm’s latest strategy for developing new models. The platform supports plug-in hybrids (PHEV), self-charging hybrids (HEV), battery EVs (BEV), traditional internal combustion (ICE), and fuel cell vehicles (FCEV). GWM One is also known as the Gui Yuan platform in its domestic market.
GWM emphasizes the platform’s flexibility for both powertrains and vehicles, supporting SUVs, sedans, MPVs, and pickups, with plans for over 50 future models to be developed on the new platform. The Wey V9X is GWM’s first model to utilize the new platform, and high hopes have been placed on the success of both the new model and the new platform.
Source: GWM
During the announcement, Wei Jianjun claimed that, instead of consumers, it was GWM’s rivals who were laser-focused on the V9X’s launch, going on to state that they would immediately start learning from the GWM One platform. He further claimed that without the principles and modus operandi of GWM One, rivals would struggle in achieving an international foothold and risk becoming non-competitive.
More on GWM and the GWM One Platform
It can be assumed that GWM’s chairman is referring to firms still sticking with a pure-EV approach, or catering to range-anxious consumers with extended-range EVs (EREVs). GWM has previously claimed that EREVs are at least 13 % less efficient compared with direct-drive applications, and views the technology as “corner-cutting”. Chinese brands with an EREV-heavy lineup include Li Auto, Huawei‘s Aito, and Changan‘s Deepal.
2026 has also seen a worldwide cool-down on the pure EV wave, with EREVs, PHEVs, and HEVs gaining traction both in China and abroad. Previously, EV brands like Smart and Leapmotor are now offering options with internal combustion, and GWM is hoping to get ahead of the trend by leveraging its new platform, offering multiple powertrains from the get-go.
GWM is no stranger to strong language either. The firm has on multiple occasions made clear its disdain for EREV tech, with Mu Feng, GWM’s senior vice president, even stating GWM “would rather die than make extended-range vehicles”.
Source: China EV DataTracker
According to China EV DataTracker, GWM’s Wey, ORA, and Tank sub-brands delivered 20,200 units domestically in March 2026. While GWM is strong in exports compared with many domestic rivals, this combined figure is less than the individual sales of popular models like the Tesla Model Y or Geely’s Geome Xingyuan (Geely EX2).
In contrast, BYD delivered 165,942 units in the same month. It remains to be seen if GWM’s predictions will come true, and whether its bet on the GWM One platform and the Wey V9X will pay off.
