GWM has further strengthened its reputation for building capable off-road vehicles after achieving a dominant performance at the 2026 Taklimakan Rally, one of Asia’s most demanding motorsport events. The achievement not only highlights the brand’s engineering excellence but also reinforces the capabilities behind the TANK models currently available to Malaysian customers.
Held across some of the harshest terrain in China’s Xinjiang region, the 2026 Taklimakan Rally challenged competitors with a gruelling 7,500-kilometre route over 17 days. The event featured 13 special stages and more than 3,400 kilometres of competitive racing through deserts, rocky landscapes, river crossings and extreme weather conditions.
GWM emerged as the standout manufacturer of the event, securing victories in every T2 production vehicle category. The company claimed the T2.E New-Energy Manufacturers’ Cup, T2.1 ICE Manufacturers’ Cup and T2.3 Production Club Cup, underlining the strength and reliability of its production-based vehicle platforms.
At the centre of the success was the TANK 700 Hi4-T, which recorded 11 stage victories during the rally. GWM-supported club teams added another 11 stage wins, further showcasing the competitiveness of the TANK platform. Even more impressively, every factory-backed GWM entry completed the rally without suffering a mechanical retirement, demonstrating exceptional durability under some of the toughest conditions faced by any production-based vehicle competition.
The rally presented numerous challenges, including the 468-kilometre SS3 stage—the longest in six years—as well as the notorious SS5 and SS6 “Devil Double” stages, known for their low completion rates. Competitors also faced deep sand, hidden hazards, demanding navigation sections and unforgiving desert terrain designed to test both machines and drivers to their limits.
What makes the achievement particularly significant is that the competing vehicles retained their production vehicle foundations. Built according to FIA T2 regulations, the rally entries maintained their original chassis structures, body architecture and core drivetrain systems, demonstrating the strength of the engineering that originates from the factory floor.
According to GWM Malaysia Managing Director Cui Anqi, the success reflects the engineering standards, off-road expertise and development philosophy that define the broader TANK family. These principles are carried over into models offered locally, including the GWM TANK 300 HEV and GWM TANK 500 HEV.
Chief Operating Officer of GWM Malaysia Roslan Abdullah added that Malaysian customers benefit directly from the technologies and durability developed through such demanding programmes. Whether tackling urban commutes, long-distance family journeys or off-road adventures, the goal remains to deliver confidence and capability in every driving situation.
In Malaysia, the GWM TANK 300 HEV combines hybrid efficiency with genuine off-road performance. Built on a rugged body-on-frame platform, it features intelligent four-wheel-drive technologies while maintaining practicality for everyday use. The larger TANK 500 HEV serves as the flagship of the range, blending premium comfort, advanced technology and serious off-road capability in a sophisticated full-size SUV package.
Beyond collecting trophies, events such as the Taklimakan Rally serve as vital testing grounds for vehicle development. Data gathered from these extreme conditions helps engineers refine cooling systems, drivetrain durability, suspension performance, power delivery and overall reliability, ensuring future production vehicles are better prepared for real-world challenges.
As GWM continues expanding its presence in Malaysia through its HAVAL, TANK, ORA and WEY brands, the Taklimakan Rally victory provides a powerful demonstration of the company’s commitment to engineering vehicles that perform when conditions are at their toughest. From the deserts of Xinjiang to Malaysia’s highways and adventure trails, GWM’s latest achievement highlights how motorsport development continues to shape the vehicles delivered to customers.
To further attract buyers, GWM Malaysia is currently offering a range of ownership benefits across the TANK lineup. The TANK 300 HEV comes with a lifetime warranty for the engine and transmission, a six-year unlimited mileage warranty for the vehicle and HEV system, an eight-year or 180,000-kilometre battery warranty, five years of complimentary maintenance and telematics services, as well as a RM3,000 loyalty rebate for existing GWM owners.
Selected variants of the TANK 300 also receive savings of up to RM25,000, along with a lifetime engine and transmission warranty and five years of free maintenance. Meanwhile, selected units of the flagship TANK 500 HEV are available with savings of up to RM30,000, a lifetime warranty covering the engine, transmission and hybrid system, plus five years of complimentary maintenance.
These offers further enhance the appeal of GWM’s growing TANK range, combining proven off-road capability with long-term ownership value for Malaysian buyers.
