Affordable Chinese GM models firming for Australian launch

The Wuling brand, part of a joint venture between General Motors and MG parent company SAIC Motor, appears to be planning an Australian launch.

An entry has appeared in the federal government’s Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification database for the Wuling Eksion EV, a mid-size electric SUV.

It lists a single front-mounted 150kW electric motor and a five-seat configuration, though petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains and a seven-seat layout are also offered overseas. The vehicle is sold in India as the MG Hector Tomahawk.

It's unclear if General Motors Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) will handle distribution of the Wuling brand. We've contacted the company for comment.

The Eksion is already produced in right-hand drive in Indonesia, and PT SGMW Motor Indonesia – SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Indonesian arm – confirmed in 2024 that it plans to explore exporting vehicles to Australia.

A look at Wuling’s Indonesian website confirms a torque output of 310Nm and a 69.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, offering up to 530km of range under the more lenient CLTC cycle.

The PHEV has a 78kW/130Nm naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated with a 145kW electric motor and a 20.5kWh LFP battery that's claimed to be good for 125km of CLTC range.

All Eksions are front-wheel drive.

Launched overseas in 2025, the Eksion measures 4745mm long, 1850mm wide and 1755mm tall on a 2810mm wheelbase, making it 145mm longer, 5mm narrower and 70mm taller than the Toyota RAV4 on a 120mm longer wheelbase.

The Eksion EV has MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, and rides on 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, it features an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

While Wuling is a value-focused mass-market brand in China, there’s a high level of specification offered in the Indonesian-market Eksion, including a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, and ventilated front seats.

Wuling started vehicle manufacturing in 1984, before forming the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture in 2002. In 2010, it established a second brand in partnership with SAIC and GM called Baojun.

The Wuling brand offers everything from electric micro-cars like the Hongguang Mini EV, the second-best selling vehicle in China last year, through to the mid-size Starlight sedan, and the Starlight L large SUV. These sit under the Silver Label sub-brand established in 2020 and aimed at private buyers.

Wuling also offers a wide range of commercial vehicles, predominantly vans, under the Red Label badge.

Many models from the Wuling and Baojun brands are exported to markets such as Mexico wearing Chevrolet badges. For example, the Chevrolet Captiva currently sold in various Latin American, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern markets is a rebadged Baojun 530.

However, in markets such as Indonesia, Wuling vehicles are sold under their own brand. In Indonesia, Wuling fields everything from small vans through to the quirky Cloud EV and the large Darion EV/PHEV people mover, though the likes of the Starlight sedan and Starlight L SUV aren't yet offered there.

Established in 1997, the SAIC-GM joint venture, which currently produces various Buick and Cadillac models and was due to expire in 2027, was earlier this year extended for a further 20 years. The SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture was also extended.

SAIC-GM vehicles are also set to be exported more widely to global markets. That includes the Buick Electra E7, which will be exported to markets such as South Korea.

John Roth, head of GM China, said in August: "We are committed to strong performance in the China market, and we see meaningful opportunities to compete in select international markets: the Middle East, Africa, South America, Mexico and Asia-Pacific.”

It's unclear if any SAIC-GM vehicles will be produced in right-hand drive. Buick and Cadillac vehicles from the joint venture would fit more naturally into GM ANZ's existing GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) and Cadillac Australia lineups.

MORE: GM extends deal with MG parent, will export Buick, Cadillac cars from China