Wuling might not be a name most Australian buyers know yet, but that could be about to change. A filing has turned up in the federal government’s Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification database for the Wuling Eksion EV, a mid-size electric SUV built through the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture. It’s usually the first solid clue that a manufacturer is getting ready to bring a car here, well before any official announcement.
As of this week, neither Wuling nor GM Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) has confirmed a local launch. It’s also not yet clear whether GM ANZ would end up distributing the brand, and the company hasn’t responded publicly to questions on the matter.
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What powers the Wuling Eksion?
The Indonesian-market Wuling Eksion is available with electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, although the Australian ADR listing currently points specifically to an EV with five seats. The EV uses a 69.2kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and a front-mounted electric motor producing 150kW and 310Nm. Wuling quotes up to 530km of range under the CLTC testing standard, which is generally more generous than the WLTP test used for many Australian-market vehicles.
The Indonesian model is also sold as a seven-seater, despite the five-seat configuration recorded in the Australian ADR entry. Wuling’s Indonesian specifications list the Eksion at 4745mm long, 1850mm wide and 1755mm tall, with a 2810mm wheelbase. That puts it in the same broad size class as familiar Australian medium SUVs, although the three-row Indonesian version offers more seating capacity than many of its direct electric SUV alternatives.
The PHEV version combines a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with a 145kW electric motor and 20.5kWh LFP battery. Wuling claims up to 125km of electric driving range and more than 1000km of combined range under CLTC. There is no confirmation that the PHEV would be offered in Australia.
A well-equipped SUV from GM’s Chinese joint venture
The Eksion is produced by SAIC-GM-Wuling, the long-running joint venture between General Motors and China’s SAIC Motor. In Indonesia, the EV comes with features including a 12.8-inch central touchscreen, 8.8-inch digital instrument display, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, power tailgate and a 360-degree camera. Safety and driver-assistance equipment includes adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring.
Those specifications are not necessarily representative of an Australian version, however. Australian equipment levels and safety calibration would need to be confirmed before the Eksion could be considered a direct alternative to established local-market SUVs.
What would a Wuling launch mean for Australia?
Wuling would give GM another potential route into Australia’s increasingly crowded Chinese-made vehicle market. The brand sits at the more affordable end of SAIC-GM-Wuling’s portfolio, while GM’s existing Australian operations are focused on brands and vehicles positioned much further up the market.
For Australian buyers, the most significant question is therefore not whether the Eksion can meet local regulations, but how it would be positioned if it reaches showrooms. GM ANZ has yet to confirm whether it will distribute Wuling in Australia, while Australian pricing, warranty details, charging specifications and final seating configuration remain unknown.
For now, the ADR listing is best viewed as another indication that the Wuling Eksion is being considered for Australia rather than confirmation of a showroom launch.
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