GWM ONE: A 'Movable Type' Plan to Reshape the Global Auto Industry

BEIJING, CHINA – April 27, 2026 – At a packed Auto China 2026 press conference, Great Wall Motor (GWM) CEO Mu Feng unveiled a sweeping strategic vision named “GWM ONE,” aiming to fundamentally reshape automotive manufacturing and redefine the company’s global role. The strategy combines a groundbreaking modular technology platform with a firm philosophical commitment to integrity, positioning GWM to navigate an industry grappling with rapid technological shifts and fierce competition.

“I believe there is only one answer: return to the origin,” Mu declared, introducing the GWM ONE concept, whose Chinese name, “Guiyuan,” translates to returning to the essence. “GWM ONE is not just a concept – it is the value philosophy of the automotive industry in this new era.”

The 'Movable Type' Revolution

At the heart of the announcement is the GWM ONE Platform, which Mu described as the “movable type printing” of the auto industry. This innovative architecture deconstructs a vehicle into over 300 standardized hardware units and more than 2,000 software service labels. By combining these modular “types” with native AI, GWM claims it can achieve “removable, combinable, growable” carmaking, enabling the rapid development of diverse models across multiple categories and powertrains.

This modularity yields staggering efficiency gains, with GWM reporting over 95% parts commonality. According to the company, the cost to develop four new models on the platform is now roughly equivalent to what it previously took to develop just 1.8 models. This efficiency is designed to provide customers with more choice and smarter features at a lower cost of ownership.

A key differentiator of the GWM ONE Platform is its status as the world’s first architecture to natively support five distinct powertrain types: traditional internal combustion engines (ICE), hybrids (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), battery electric vehicles (BEV), and even hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEV). This “pan-ICE strategy,” as Mu termed it, is a deliberate move away from a single-minded focus on BEVs, aiming to empower customers with choice based on their diverse global needs and local infrastructure.

Underscoring this strategy, GWM showcased its versatile Hi4 (Hybrid Intelligent 4WD) family. The company emphatically stated it will “never build a range extender,” arguing its advanced Hi4 technology already covers that functionality more efficiently. The lineup includes:

• Super Hi4: A new-generation PHEV system boasting a 4-second 0-100 km/h sprint, over 400 km of electric range, and ultra-fast charging that adds 200 km in just five minutes.
• Hi4-Z: Tailored for urban commuters, offering over 200 km of electric range for weekly charging-free driving.
• Hi4-T: A rugged system built for serious off-roading, featuring a high-power engine and a non-decoupled 4WD architecture, as seen in the TANK brand.

Further pushing boundaries, GWM is integrating diesel engines with hybrid systems and even teased a mysterious high-performance V8 Hi4, promising the roar of a V8 built for the track.

A Strategy of 'Deep Rooting' for Global Reach

Beyond technological prowess, the GWM ONE vision underpins an ambitious and nuanced global expansion strategy termed “deep rooting.” Rather than simply exporting cars, GWM is building complete local ecosystems encompassing R&D, production, sales, and service, meticulously adapting its products to regional demands.

This approach is already bearing fruit. In Brazil, GWM developed the world’s first ethanol flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle and has seen its sales skyrocket by 154% in 2024. In Thailand, where the climate is hot and humid, engineers analyzed local car wash soaps to develop more resilient anti-corrosion coatings. The effort has paid off, with Thai sales surging 96% in the first seven months of 2025.

In Australia, GWM has climbed to become the top-selling Chinese brand, securing the eighth spot overall in 2025 with a 23.4% year-on-year sales increase. The company brought in local chassis tuning master Rob Trubiani to test and adapt its vehicles for Australia’s unique and demanding road conditions, embodying a philosophy of not just being “In Local for Local,” but also “from local to global.”

“Our long-term vision is to become a mainstream brand in Europe, building a complete business ecosystem,” Mu stated, signaling a renewed push into the competitive European market after an initial strategic reset. With the GWM ONE platform’s flexibility, the company believes it can quickly assemble and deploy models tailored for any market, empowering its global partners with stable quality, lower costs, and faster parts supply.

Integrity in the Fast Lane

Perhaps the most striking element of the keynote was its strong emphasis on ethics and sustainability. Amidst a brutal price war that has destabilized the Chinese auto market, Mu Feng laid down three core commitments, or “Three Nevers,” that will guide GWM’s business practices.

1. “We will never participate in price wars that sacrifice safety and long-term quality.”
2. “We will never use exaggerated or vague marketing to undermine trust in ‘Intelligent Manufacturing in China.’”
3. “We will never transfer cost pressures to upstream or downstream partners.”

This stance is a direct challenge to the industry’s prevailing short-term, high-pressure tactics. Mu argued that while hype and trends fade, trust is the “most solid foundation of the business world.” This philosophy is backed by a deep-seated focus on quality, exemplified by the company’s 1,000th weekly quality review meeting, an unbroken 21-year tradition led by Chairman Jack Wey.

By rejecting unsustainable price cuts and misleading marketing, GWM aims to build a brand centered on reliability and user value, citing stories like a Wingle 5 pickup owner who drove nearly one million kilometers without major repairs. This commitment to building a healthy ecosystem with its partners and customers, Mu explained, is the core of the GWM ONE philosophy.

To prove its technology in the most demanding environment on Earth, GWM also announced a landmark motorsport endeavor. In 2027, the company will enter the grueling Dakar Rally with a TANK 700 hybrid race car in the T2 production class. This will make GWM the first automaker in the world to contest the legendary rally with a production-based hybrid vehicle, providing the ultimate test for its Hi4 technology and a powerful global marketing platform. The path of GWM ONE, as Mu concluded, is one of commitment—a path that may not be the fastest, but is built to be the most sustainable.