2024 GWM Ute facelift revealed, local timing unclear

The facelifted 2024 GWM Ute has debuted at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show.

GWM Australia has yet to confirm if the facelift will be sold here, but the timing for previous vehicles indicates the updated Ute should arrive in Australia in late 2023 or early 2024.

4X4 Australia has reached out to GWM Australia for local comment. This article will be updated with its response.

It is headlined by a completely redesigned interior similar to the brand’s Tank products, with a freestanding 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment system.

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Currently, the GWM Ute features an integrated 9-inch touchscreen and a hooded instrument cluster in either a 3.5-inch or 7-inch configuration.

The infotainment system appears to be running new software, with a built-in SIM and WeChat and Douyin (TikTok) support in China. The vehicle can be controlled via a smartphone application in its home market.

To accommodate the larger touchscreen, the centre air vents have been moved below the dashboard, and there are new upholstery options, including two-tone black and brown leather.

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However, as with GWM’s Haval SUV range, the larger touchscreen sees the omission of physical knobs for the air-conditioning and media controls, replaced by a row of shortcuts for the touchscreen.

Other additions include; a new steering wheel and shift-by-wire gear selector lifted from the Tank 300, a 50-watt wireless phone charger, USB-C charge ports, and a heated steering wheel.

Outside, the refreshed Ute features a new-look front grille and bumper with larger circular fog lamps, and a standard hard tonneau cover for select variants.

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An updated active safety suite now includes Level 2+ semi-autonomous abilities, including traffic jam assist, while an automatic parking system has also been added.

The powertrains, including the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, have no updates to correspond with the update.

As such, expect Australian examples to remain motivated by the current 120kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-four diesel engine matched to an eight-speed torque-converter automatic transmission.

A blacked-out Vanta flagship and two cab-chassis variants were recently added to the GWM Ute dual-cab range in Australia, while a more-rugged Off-Road Edition has been homologated and could launch here in the coming months.

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GWM Australia has also homologated single-cab and manual transmission versions of the Ute for local sale – but these variants have yet to appear in showrooms.

VFACTS new-car sales data reveals 7806 GWM Utes were sold in Australia in 2022, placing it ahead of the LDV T60 (5959) and Ssangyong Musso (1956), but behind established rivals, such as the Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi Triton and Mazda BT-50.

The facelifted 2024 GWM Ute is expected to arrive in Australia in late 2023 or early 2024, with more information expected closer to its arrival.

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At the media launch of the Tank 300 off-roader and Ora electric hatch earlier this year, GWM executives suggested the larger GWM Shanhai Cannon could reach local shores later this year or in 2024.

Currently, the Shanhai Cannon is only available in its home market with a mild-hybrid 260kW/500Nm petrol V6 or 2.4-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder developing 135kW/480Nm – the latter more likely for Oz.

As for an all-electric GWM Ute to rival the LDV eT60 and upcoming JAC T9 EV, it is still under development, but GWM's local arm remains keen on offering the model once it is finalised in China.

Below: The current 2023 GWM Ute.

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