GWM is proud to announce that the Tank 300 Diesel has been officially designated as an approved vehicle for China’s Antarctic and Arctic Expeditions, following a partnership agreement with the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC).
The production-spec vehicle will serve as a support vehicle at Antarctica’s Great Wall Station, marking the first time a Chinese automotive brand has participated in a polar expedition with an unmodified, mass-production vehicle.
The selection follows comprehensive evaluations by PRIC on vehicle performance, including powertrain capability, off-road performance, low-temperature reliability, and fuel adaptability — the very same qualities that have made GWM one of Australia’s fastest-growing automotive brands.
EXTREME TESTING VALIDATES PERFORMANCE
During validation testing at GWM’s environmental wind tunnel laboratory, the Tank 300 Diesel successfully completed one-touch starting, defrosting, and heating operations at -30°C, while simulating severe polar blizzard conditions. GWM also presented PRIC experts with its comprehensive test and validation system, encompassing over 2,000 individual test projects.
Built for strength and safety, the Tank 300 features a ring-shaped structural design with 70% high-strength steel construction, including 20% ultra-high-strength 1500 MPa steel, enabling the roof to withstand over 15 tonnes of pressure. The chassis delivers exceptional torsional rigidity (284.5 kN·m/rad), resisting twisting and flexing across the uneven terrain.
Powered by a 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine, the Tank 300 has undergone 14,000 hours of bench testing — equivalent to 4.8 million kilometres — and 4.2 million kilometres of validation testing across 60 vehicles, achieving idle noise levels below 65 dB.
PROVEN IN THE TOUGHEST CONDITIONS
Australian off-roaders will recognise the Tank 300’s credentials. Earlier this year, GWM models — including the Tank 300 — successfully conquered Beer O’Clock Hill, one of Australia’s most notorious “hell-grade” off-road challenges, demonstrating the same capability that will now be tested at the southernmost point on Earth.
Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications at GWM Australia, said: “The Tank 300’s selection for Antarctic expeditions validates what our owners already know — this is a vehicle built to handle the world’s most extreme conditions. From the Australian Outback to Antarctica, the Tank 300 delivers uncompromising reliability and performance, no matter what it encounters.”
GLOBAL R&D SUPPORTING LOCAL CAPABILITY
GWM’s Antarctic partnership reflects the company’s technological leadership, supported by a ‘Seven-Country, Ten-Site’ global R&D network spanning Japan, the United States, Germany and beyond. The company currently manages over 110 advanced R&D projects in powertrain development, new energy, intelligent cockpit technology, and autonomous driving.
As the longest-standing Chinese automotive brands in Australia, GWM has established a comprehensive local presence since 2008, encompassing sales, aftersales, and distribution. Guided by its new “At One” philosophy, the company will ensure every vehicle is meticulously tuned to meet the unique demands of Australian terrain and driving conditions by mid-2026.
In hybrid technology, GWM has developed three major architectures — Hi4, Hi4-Z, and Hi4-T — delivering advanced performance across both urban and extreme off-road environments. Designed for off-road extremes, the Hi4-T adopts a ‘fuel-first, electric-assisted’ strategy and features China’s first self-developed longitudinal 9HAT transmission, integrating motor and gearbox to support pure electric, fuel, and hybrid driving modes.
MARKET LEADERSHIP REFLECTS PRODUCT QUALITY
GWM’s Australian momentum continues to accelerate. From January to September 2025, GWM achieved 39,343 sales, representing a 23.7% year-on-year increase. The brand now ranks 7th among all automotive brands in Australia and 1st among Chinese brands, with a 4.3% market share.
The Tank 300’s reliability has also been recognised in the 2025 China Automotive Product Quality Performance Study (AQR), where it was ranked “No. 1 in Quality Performance among Independent SUVs.” Over its four years on the market, the model has undergone 481 reliability enhancement upgrades, with the 2025 version introducing 43 new optimisations.
Globally, the Tank 300 has exceeded 470,000 cumulative sales as of September 2025, with over 22,000 owners surpassing 100,000 kilometres of driving each — reinforcing the model’s reputation for durability and dependability.
FROM GREAT WALL MOTOR TO GREAT WALL STATION
The arrival of the Tank 300 Diesel at Antarctica’s Great Wall Station represents a historic milestone for Chinese automotive engineering. Under the partnership agreement, GWM and PRIC will jointly showcase to the world the superior quality, capability, and reliability of modern Chinese manufacturing.
For Australian drivers who regularly push their vehicles to the limit, the Tank 300’s role in polar exploration further reinforces the engineering excellence and reliability they experience every day.
