Less than 24 hours after our report on the GWM Wey 80 luxury MPV at the Shanghai Auto Show 2025, GWM Chairman Jack Wey has confirmed during a press conference that the Wey 80 will be launched in Malaysia.
Wey stated, “We are currently planning to produce the MPV in a manufacturing facility of GWM together with a third party in Malaysia and it will be exported to markets like Thailand.”
The third party Wey is referring to could be PEPS-JV Melaka (PJVM), the appointed contract vehicle assembler for GWM in Malaysia. Its operations are based at its wholly-owned subsidiary, EP Manufacturing Berhad’s (EPMB) facility in Melaka.
Currently, the facility locally assembles (CKD) the GWM Haval H6 HEV, and the GWM Wey 80 could follow suit. This marks the first assembly of the Wey 80 outside of mainland China. Furthermore, according to Chairman Wey, the GWM Wey 80 assembled in Malaysia will be exported to other markets.
EPMB is also localising crucial components for GWM vehicles through its facilities in Kulim, Tanjung Malim, Batang Kali, Shah Alam, and Melaka. These components include seats, front frame steering, suspension systems, brake components, rear axle modules (inclusive of suspension and braking systems), instrument panels, and other interior trims.
The GWM Wey 80, otherwise known as the “Gaoshan” in China, is the flagship offering of GWM’s Wey luxury division. This luxury MPV is offered in two variants in China in different wheelbases ranging from 5.28 to 5.41 metres, and can be configured with six or seven seats.
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As a luxury MPV, the Wey 80 is equipped with two zero-gravity seats upholstered in Nappa leather in the second row. They come with heating, ventilation, massage functions, leg rests and retractable small tables.
The GWM Wey 80 is equipped with dual 15.6-inch infotainment displays, a 12.3-inch driver’s digital gauge cluster complemented by a 26-inch heads-up display (HUD), and a roof-mounted 17.6-inch rear entertainment screen for passengers in the back.
Additional interior features include a 23-speaker sound system, three-zone automatic climate control, soundproof glass, sunshades, privacy glass, and a 12.5 litre fridge with cooling and heating functionality.
Powering the GWM Wey 80 is a plug-in-hybrid (PHEV) powertrain which has a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 hp and 245 Nm.
This engine is paired with two electric motors, one on the front axle (109 hp and 170 Nm) and one on the rear axle (183 hp and 232 Nm) with a four-speed hybrid gearbox.
Combined, the PHEV powertrain on the Wey 80 produces 458 hp (337 kW) and 644 Nm. The electric motors draw power from a ternary lithium-ion (NMC) battery pack available in 44.28 kWh or 51.55 kWh capacities.
With the 44.28 kWh battery pack, the Wey 80 offers an electric range of 172 km (WLTC) and a combined range of 945 km (WLTC). The larger 51.55 kWh battery extends the electric range to 201 km (WLTC) and the combined range to 963 km (WLTC).
Charging-wise, the GWM Wey 80 supports AC charging at 6.6 kW which allows a 15% to 100% recharge in 6.5 hours with the smaller battery and 7.7 hours with the larger battery. While DC fast charging speeds haven’t been specified, GWM notes a 30% to 80% recharge time of 26 minutes.
In terms of safety features, the GWM Wey 80 in China has a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that includes high-speed navigation with autopilot assist, optional city-intelligent navigation assist, and standard features like intelligent cruise assist (ICC) and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
All said, the question now remains; when will GWM Malaysia launch the Wey 80 in Malaysia? The Chinese carmaker is gearing up for a busy period, having recently previewed the GWM Tank 500, which could be launched soon. The Wey 80 will likely be the next model introduced in Malaysia following the Tank 500.
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