The GWM Tank 300 will no longer be launching in South Africa in 2023, but will instead make its debut early next year.
The SUV was first announced all the way back in January this year, when the company said that it would be “hitting South African shores in 2023, offering buyers unbeatable levels of toughness, sophistication, and top-level safety.”
Cause for delay
Already on sale in markets like the Middle East, Australia, and the automaker’s home market of China, the Tank 300 was supposed to arrive in local showrooms in the second half of this year, with its larger Tank 500 sibling scheduled to make landfall in the first few months of 2024.
This trajectory was supported by the fact that the carmaker published the indicative pricing of the 300 in May – something that is typically only done a few weeks before a new car goes on sale – suggesting at the time that we could expect the vehicle by the end of the year at the latest, if not sooner.
However, the Chinese manufacturer recently confirmed to Cars.co.za that the reason for the quiet delay can be attributed to a severe and unexpected hailstorm in KwaZulu-Natal that damaged the first units of the Tank brought in through the country’s ports, pushing its intended rollout into the next year.
What’s in store
The Tank 300 will be GWM’s first SUV in South Africa, as the company currently only has three models consisting of the Steed and P-Series bakkie, as well as the new Ora electric hatchback.
While Haval is a part of GWM, the two operate independently in South Africa, and the former’s selection of crossovers and SUVs are much better suited for city life than the incoming 300 and 500.
“Tank” is the carmaker’s dedicated 4×4 sub-division, and the new vehicle will pack a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol motor with a considerable 258kW and 615Nm to take it on overlanding excursions.
This will connect to an electronically controlled four-wheel-drive system via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, netting a fuel consumption return of 9.3l/100km.
Buyers will have access to 2H, 4H, and 4L settings, as well as five terrain driving modes, and differential locks for both the front and rear.
The Tank also has a ground clearance of 224mm, and its approach and departure angles clock in at 33 and 34 degrees respectively.
The final equipment sheet is yet to be decided for the South African market, but brochures in other countries like Australia suggest we can expect things like ambient interior lighting, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a Harman International Infinity sound system, contrast leather seats, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitors, and automatic emergency braking.
Pre-orders for the GWM Tank 300 are already open, and the automaker has indicated that prices will start from R685,900 all the way up to R851,900, though these figures are likely to change by the time the delayed vehicle actually arrives on our shores.
Keyword: Why the new GWM Tank 300 is not launching in South Africa in 2023 anymore