Most GWM models to be tuned for local conditions by mid-2026
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GWM Australia has confirmed to carsales its model-specific ‘AT1’ suspension tune will be applied to the bulk of its vehicles by the middle of 2026 and not held back for a mid-life update or facelift.
GWM, like many of the Chinese brands, proved long ago it can move and evolve quickly in accordance with market requirements and consumer demands, with its biggest powerplay Down Under arguably being the hiring of former Holden engineer Rob Trubiani.
Trubiani’s appointment as lead engineer for GWM Australia and New Zealand was only announced in March and yet two localised models (H6, Cannon Alpha diesel) are already on the cusp of entering production (November) so these vehicles are expected to arrive in Australia in late 2025 or early 2026.
Collins added that ramping up BYD’s appeal to fleet buyers was another major target.
“We are starting to get a lot more serious about fleet business; we know there’s opportunities in different variants of Shark for fleet, which are a bit more fit for purpose.
“We’re investigating all of those options.”
“By mid-2026, we expect a substantial portion of our local range to feature the new AT1 tuning, delivering a more refined, confident and locally-matched driving experience.”
carsales understands ‘a substantial portion’ to effectively mean the entirety of the line-up – save perhaps for one or two models – and can confirm the new suspension tunes are being implemented as rolling changes as opposed to model year updates or facelifts.
One of the most intriguing outcomes of the AT1 program will be if Trubiani and his team and quell the Tank 300’s tendency to stand on its nose during hard braking; previous versions actually used to lift the rear wheels off the ground in an emergency stop.
This article originally appeared on carsales.com.au
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