GWM expands localisation program: Tank 500 PHEV gets the AT-1 ride and handling treatment
Chinese brand GWM has rolled out its new AT-1 localisation program to the plug-in hybrid GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T, with the large electrified off-road SUV becoming the second locally tuned GWM model engineered specifically for Australian and New Zealand conditions.
The updated MY26 Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV gains revised damper tuning and steering calibration as part of the company’s AT-1 – pronounced “At One” – development philosophy, which focuses on tailoring vehicles to local roads and driving expectations.
GWM says the changes improve steering feel, ride composure and driver confidence across urban driving, highway touring and off-road use.
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GWM’s Toyota Prado and Ford Everest fighter also picks up a new 220V interior power outlet mounted in the rear cargo area, expanding the functionality of its vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability for powering camping equipment, tools and other accessories.
Pricing for the 2026 GWM Tank 500 Hi4-T PHEV with the AT-1 upgrades is currently listed at $77,990 drive-away under a May promotional offer, compared to its regular $79,990 drive-away price.
While the Tank 500 is the latest model to receive the changes, GWM says AT-1 is not a one-off suspension update but an ongoing localisation strategy designed around Australian and New Zealand conditions.
According to GWM, the program focuses on refining ride and handling, steering calibration, advanced driver assistance systems, towing performance and overall vehicle dynamics through extensive local testing.
The work is led locally by engineering chief Rob Trubiani, whose team conducts testing across urban, regional and rural roads to tune vehicles specifically for the conditions faced by Australian and New Zealand buyers.
AT-1 was first introduced on the updated GWM Haval H6, where GWM says it created five separate tunes for different petrol, hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. The company claims the process involved around 24 front damper tunes, 40 rear damper tunes and extensive steering recalibration work.
GWM says insights gained through the Australian and New Zealand localisation program are also being fed back into its global engineering operations to influence future vehicle development.
The GWM localisation program had been based at the former Holden test track at Lang Lang in Victoria. But the sale of that facility to a defence contractor has forced it to search for a new base.
