The powerful new GWM bakkie that could be coming to South Africa

GWM recently launched a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain for the P500 in Australia, and it’s looking likely to eventually make its way to the South African version of the bakkie.

A slew of plug-in hybrids are on their way to South Africa from some of the biggest nameplates in the game including Toyota as well as Chery sub-brands Omoda and Jaecoo.

Likewise, one of GWM’s top rivals in its home market of China, BYD, will be rolling out a PHEV bakkie in March in the form of the Shark 6.

Even its sister brand, Haval, recently confirmed the imminent arrival of the H6 GT PHEV in the country.

All these automakers are aiming to secure a slice of the budding new-energy vehicle (NEV) segment in South Africa, which has been labelled as one of the fastest-growing categories of cars on the market.

GWM has already achieved marked successes with its bakkie offerings, with the P-Series regularly sitting among the top 10 best-selling models in the segment, and the newer P500 being voted the 2024 South African Bakkie of the Year.

It thus seems logical that, should GWM not want to miss the NEV craze, it would capitalise on the favour its bakkies have earned thus far and introduce the powerful new PHEV engine option to its P500 line-up.

TopAuto asked the domestic arm of GWM questions surrounding the potential launch of the P500 PHEV, but did not receive a response.

What to expect

The new P500 PHEV – known as the Cannon Alpha in the Land Down Under – is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol mill in conjunction with an e-motor on the rear axle.

The two power sources generate a healthy 300kW and 750Nm combined, which is fed to all four wheels via a nine-speed auto-box.

In comparison, the 2.4-litre, turbo-diesel P500 puts out 135kW and 480Nm, while the 2.0-litre traditional hybrid does 255kW and 648Nm.

The generous grunt of the P500 PHEV would make it the second-most powerful bakkie in South Africa after the upcoming BYD Shark 6, which is good for 321kW and 650Nm.

A key benefit of the PHEV system is, of course, its ability to function in all-electric mode courtesy of a 37.1kWh ternary lithium battery pack.

The cell allows for 110km of driving on electrons alone. When the petrol engine is also thrown into the mix, the P500 PHEV boasts a maximum driving distance of 880km.

GWM also claims an average fuel usage of 1.7l/100km, though this is based on the assumption that the bakkie would spend most of its time in the full-electric setting.

Should the petrol engine be running more regularly, consumption is likely to be closer to the 9.8l/100km of the traditional hybrid.

The PHEV’s battery pack supports up to a 50kW DC plug for quick charging, which sees 30-80% completed in 26 minutes.

It also has 3.3kW Vehicle-to-Load support, which allows the owner to power external devices by plugging them into the bakkie’s charge port.

Despite the more technical powertrain and electronic bits and bobs, the P500 PHEV has lost none of the practicality or off-road prowess of its siblings.

Maximum towing capacity for the luxurious double cab is pegged at 3,500kg and it supports a payload of up to 685kg.

It also comes with a tried-and-tested Borg Warner transfer case offering low range, as well as front and rear differential locks, and its maximum water-wading depth is still rated at an industry-leading 800mm.