Updated GWM Tank 500 launches in China, AU arrival unclear

Key highlights:

• China’s Tank 500 gains dual 15.6-inch displays and 296 upgrades
• Coffee Pilot 4 adds 27 sensors, including LiDAR
• Australian update timing remains unconfirmed; sales fell 5.6% YoY

The GWM Tank 500 has received another round of upgrades in China, including larger digital displays, improved driver-assistance technology and new cabin features. However, Australian buyers may have to wait, with GWM Australia yet to confirm whether any of these changes will reach our market.

The latest update also raises the possibility that Australia could fall two refreshes behind China.

GWM Tank 500 powertrains in China

The Tank 500 continues to offer three powertrain options in China: a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 and two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) systems using a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

Only the Hi4-T PHEV is offered in Australia from those Chinese-market powertrains. Local buyers can also choose a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine, which arrived earlier this year.

GWM Tank 500 cabin: dual 15.6-inch screens

The latest update brings two 15.6-inch digital displays to the dashboard, where one screen serves as the infotainment touchscreen, replacing the current Australian model’s smaller 14.6-inch display, and the second is a new screen for the front passenger, available as part of an optional package.

That package also adds speakers to the front passenger head restraint, taking the vehicle’s total speaker count to 22. Other cabin features include:

• A standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• A standard head-up display
• New thigh extenders for the front seats
• Small tables fitted to the front seatbacks
• A new “double bed mode”

GWM says the latest Tank 500 has received 296 hardware and software upgrades, designed to improve the in-car experience and the performance of its safety technology.

Driver-assistance and safety technology upgraded

The updated SUV uses GWM’s Coffee Pilot 4 driver-assistance system, supported by 27 sensors, including a LiDAR unit. Other technology upgrades include:

• Digital rear-view mirror: A new-generation system with an ultra-wide-angle view
• Intelligent tyre blowout control: Designed to help keep the vehicle under control if a tyre fails at high speed
• Coffee Night Vision 2.0: An optional far-infrared night-vision system with a detection range of up to 300 metres

The exterior gains a new Danxia Red paint finish, while the cabin adds a black-and-grey colour combination, but GWM has not confirmed when, or whether, these changes will arrive in Australia.

Why Australia could miss another update

The latest Chinese-market refresh follows a more substantial update revealed in July 2025. That version introduced a column-mounted gear selector, a built-in fridge and a roof-mounted 17.3-inch rear entertainment system, and it also brought a redesigned grille, new alloy wheel designs and additional exterior colours.

At the time, GWM ANZ said it would retain the existing Australian model rather than align it with the Chinese version. The company did not give a specific reason, but the change to the column-mounted gear selector may have played a part.

GWM Australia previously declined to introduce a recent Tank 300 update, citing customer feedback about the move away from its chunky, console-mounted gear shifter.

The company also suggested future Tank 300 updates in Australia could involve “a bit of a mix and match”. That leaves room for some of the Tank 500’s latest Chinese-market changes to reach Australia, although the local version may not receive every upgrade.

GWM delivered 1055 Tank 500s in Australia to the end of September, down 5.6% on the same period last year. Despite those deliveries, the large SUV continues to trail rivals, including the LDV D90, and Australia’s best-selling large SUV remains the Ford Everest.

The figures put the Tank 500 well behind the Everest, while the D90 has also outsold it. For now, Australian buyers will have to wait for confirmation on the Tank 500’s next update. GWM ANZ is exploring options from China, but local legislation and consumer preferences will help determine which changes make the cut.