Australia's cheapest hybrid ute axed as PHEVs take hold

GWM had the distinction of offering one of Australia’s only two full-hybrid utes, and one of just three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) utes. However, it’s axing the former to focus on the latter.

The GWM Cannon Alpha Hybrid has been discontinued, the company has confirmed.

It was only launched last year, while deliveries of the PHEV began in May.

GWM has confirmed the PHEV is now replacing the hybrid, just as pricing of the former has been sharpened.

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“With advancements in PHEV technology and a competitive price point, our goal is to offer a range that truly connects with customer needs,” said a spokesperson from GWM Australia.

“The Cannon Alpha PHEV strikes an ideal balance between cutting-edge electrification and uncompromised 4×4 capability, as proven in our climb on Beer O’Clock Hill.

“For those who prefer a more traditional option, the diesel variant remains an integral part of the lineup.”

The Cannon Alpha PHEV is now being offered for $57,490 drive-away in Lux trim and $64,490 drive-away in Ultra trim, until September 30, 2025 or while stocks last.

That sees the Ultra PHEV now undercut what the Ultra Hybrid – the only hybrid variant GWM offered here – was priced at. It was being offered for $64,990 drive-away.

The Cannon Alpha Hybrid and PHEV both use a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. However, the PHEV employs a larger battery (37.1kWh versus 1.76kWh), allowing for 115km of claimed electric-only driving range on the NEDC cycle.

The PHEV also produces more power and torque, with total system outputs of 300kW and 750Nm compared to 255kW and 648Nm for the regular hybrid.

A diesel continues to open the Cannon Alpha range. The entry-level Lux diesel is priced from $52,990 drive-away, with the Ultra diesel priced at $58,990 drive-away.

Both use a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine producing 135kW of power and 480Nm of torque.

The ute segment, long dominated by diesels in Australia, has been amassing more electrified options.

The Toyota HiLux followed the Ram 1500 in adopting 48V mild-hybrid technology, while LDV launched the fully electric e-T60 late in 2022 and will follow this up in the coming months with the new eTerron 9 electric ute.

While Toyota doesn’t offer a HiLux-sized ute with hybrid power like it does overseas with the Tacoma, it does have the full-size Tundra hybrid which has a base price that’s more than twice as high as the now-defunct GWM Cannon Alpha Hybrid.

The Tundra does without a direct competitor, as Ford doesn’t sell its F-150 Hybrid here.

That leaves our market with a grand total of one mild-hybrid ute, one hybrid ute, and one electric ute… at least for now.

Instead, it’s in the PHEV space where there’s been the most activity, with the BYD Shark 6 launching at the beginning of this year, followed a few months later by the Cannon Alpha PHEV (pictured above) and the Ford Ranger PHEV.

Other PHEVs are set to come from brands such as JAC.

To the end of May, GWM has delivered 794 Cannon Alphas this year. A total of 284 of these were hybrids, with 87 being PHEVs which only started being delivered in May.

MORE: Explore the GWM Cannon Alpha showroom