After achieving a coveted five-star ANCAP safety rating this week – after a glitch you can read about here – GWM Australia is preparing to push the Ute into the big-selling fleet sector.
To further this volume-driving goal the company will also launch a factory-fit Dual Cab Chassis model with a dropside steel tray, aimed at primary producers and the like, in early 2022.
This moves echoes decisions by both Ford and Toyota to broaden the availability of the same setup ex-factory on the HiLux and Ranger dual cabs.
“Prior to the 5-star ANCAP announcement, GWM Ute was unable to be considered by many corporates and fleets,” the company said, referring to business buyers rather than sole traders specifically.
“But now that the rating is secured, GWM will strengthen its focus across these areas to add corporate and fleet buyers to the many thousands of satisfied private buyers that have taken home a GWM Ute since it was launched in late 2020.”
While an ANCAP score isn’t a regulatory matter, many fleets demand the top rating in order to meet OH&S requirements.
The GWM is the third ute after the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 twins to go up against, and pass, the latest 2020-22 tests and thereby achieve a top rating with a current date stamp.
Among other bargain utes, the GWM has the safety edge. Newly upgraded rival the LDV T60 Max also has a five-star score, but against earlier 2017 tests that placed little emphasis on driver-assist features.
GWM has found just under 6000 buyers for the dual-cab only Ute since launch at the beginning of the year – growth that has made Australia the company’s biggest export market already.
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