Chinese joint-venture partner bypassing GM with Australian entry

The first Chinese General Motors vehicles in Australia won't be sold by GM's existing operation here.

Following the appearance of the Wuling Eksion – a product from the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture – in Australian Design Rule (ADR) certification filings this week, General Motors Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) has confirmed it isn't bringing the Wuling brand here.

“GM ANZ is unable to comment or speculate on future products, however, we can confirm Wuling vehicles will not be imported or distributed by GM ANZ," said a company spokesperson in a statement.

GM ANZ distributes Chevrolet and GMC vehicles under the GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) banner, and separately manages the Cadillac luxury brand here.

Wuling has yet to officially announce Australian launch plans.

It's unclear whether the Chinese automaker will handle its own distribution or if it'll choose a third party, as with other Chinese brands like Deepal and Foton (Inchcape) and Forthing and LDV (Ateco).

GM ANZ has also yet to confirm whether it plans to expand beyond its specialty and luxury vehicles remit and import different Chinese-built vehicles, though as yet there are no right-hand drive models it could tap from China to expand the local lineup.

The SAIC-GM joint venture is set to export vehicles more widely to global markets. Unlike the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, which predominantly exports its Wuling and Baojun brand vehicles to Latin America and the Middle East under the Chevrolet badge, the SAIC-GM joint venture focuses on the more premium Buick and Cadillac brands.

SAIC-GM recently confirmed it would end sales of Chevrolet vehicles on the Chinese market.

John Roth, head of GM China, said in August: "We are committed to strong performance in the China market, and we see meaningful opportunities to compete in select international markets: the Middle East, Africa, South America, Mexico and Asia-Pacific.”

Wuling, which established a joint venture with GM and MG parent company SAIC in 2002, has been expanding its global footprint and now says it has a presence in over 60 countries.

Its Indonesian subsidiary, which produces vehicles such as the Eksion, commenced operations in 2017. In 2023, it said it was evaluating exporting vehicles to Australia.

Wuling vehicles are predominantly sold under the Chevrolet badge outside of China, but there are exceptions beyond Indonesia. Its vehicles are sold in markets as wide-ranging as Nigeria, Jamaica and Armenia. Just this year, it has launched – via third-party distributors – in more markets, including Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Mauritius and Moldova.

The Eksion, which thus far is the only Wuling model certified for sale in Australia, is a mid-size crossover SUV.

While it's also available with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power and a seven-seat layout overseas, local certification documents list a single 150kW electric powertrain and a five-seat configuration.

In Indonesia, Wuling produces everything from small vans through to the quirky Cloud EV and the large Darion EV/PHEV people mover, though newer Chinese-market models like the Starlight sedan and Starlight L SUV aren't yet offered there.

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