January 2022, GWM published its results of sales and production corresponding to December 2021, consolidating a year of sustained growth and technological advances. With 162,369 units sold in December (up 8.2 % from the previous year and up 32.5 % from the previous month), the brand closed 2021 with 1,280,993 units sold in total, an increase of 15.2 % year-on-year. These achievements reinforce GWM's leadership as a global smart technology manufacturer, while underscoring its accelerated transformation towards electrification and innovation in intelligent driving.
Global performance and production milestones in 2021
During 2021, GWM achieved several industrial and commercial milestones that demonstrate its strength:
Confirmation of historical figures
- Total sales1,280,993 vehicles sold in 2021, a growth of 15.2 % per year.
- Accumulated productionGWM surpassed the milestone of 10 million vehicles produced since its foundation.
- Foreign sales142,793 units exported, a strong increase of 103.7 % year-on-year, representing 11.1 % of global sales.
- NEV sales in December22,354 new energy vehicles sold.
- NEV's cumulative sales in 2021The total sales of the company's products are at an all-time high of 136,953 NEV, equivalent to 10.7 % of total sales, both figures.
These results place GWM as one of the brands with the greatest projection in the global automotive market, especially for keeping six consecutive years with sales of more than one million vehicles.
Focus on new energy vehicles (NEV)
Growth of the electric and hybrid range
The boost to the new energy vehicles was one of the strategic pillars in 2021:
- Historical sales%: 136,953 NEVs sold during the entire year, growing by 10.7 % over the total.
- Monthly participation22,354 NEVs in December, demonstrating the upward trend in demand for electric and hybrid models.
Production milestonesGWM announced the production of 10,000,000 motors in 2021, consolidating its capacity to develop electric powertrains.
Featured electric models
Among the models that drove NEV sales were:
- ORA Cat (urban range electric hatchback).
- WEY Coffee 01 (premium electric SUV with intelligent driving).
- GWM Haval H6 hybrid (light hybrid and energy recovery system).
These vehicles incorporate high-density batteries, The new GWM is one of the most advanced Chinese manufacturers in electrification, with L2-level ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance) systems and 5G connectivity.
Category innovation and performance of key brands
HAVAL brand: leader in SUV sales
The brand HAVAL, specialized in SUVs, maintained its leadership in 2021:
- 770,008 units sold, 2.6 % growth per year.
- Models to highlight:
- Haval H6 Third Generation (midsize SUV with intelligent assistance system).
- Haval H2 Jolion (compact urban SUV with connectivity technology).
- Haval H6 Third Generation (midsize SUV with intelligent assistance system).
- Segmentation strategyHAVAL launched new limited editions for specific markets, attracting different customer profiles.
With these figures, HAVAL consolidated its position as one of the most sought-after SUV brands in China and international markets.
GWM Pickup: strength in pickup trucks
The division of GWM Pickup showed an outstanding performance:
- 233,006 units sold in 2021, an increase of 3.6 % per year.
- Exports43,599 pickup trucks sold abroad, up 119 1Q03Q year-on-year.
- 24-year leadershipGWM Pickup leads domestic and export sales in the pickup truck segment in China since 1997.
- December monthly sales25,033 units, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 1Q03Q, with 16 consecutive months exceeding 20,000 units.
Within this family, the GWM POER achieved a record by selling 15,117 units in December, maintaining more than 10,000 units sold for 18 consecutive months. POER is exported to more than 50 countries, including Australia, Chile, South Africa, and Egypt, and has been awarded the five-star A-NCAP rating in safety tests.
Strategy 2025: towards 4,000,000 sales and NEV leadership
Global GWM targets for 2025
With the Strategy 2025, GWM set ambitious goals:
- Global annual sales4,000,000 units by 2025.
- NEV ratiothat the 80 % of sales correspond to new energy vehicles (electric and hybrid).
- Operating incomeThe company's total revenue will exceed RMB 600 billion by 2025.
- R&D investmentto accumulate CNY 10 billion over five years, focused on high-power chips, SiC and smart technologies.
These objectives imply a comprehensive transformation, from the overall design to the user-centric operation, through to the construction of an ecological system and the digitization of processes.
Strategic investments in technology
To accelerate the autotransformation and strengthen its technology ecosystem, GWM made key investments in 2021, such as:
- Horizon RoboticsArtificial intelligence leader for autonomous vehicles.
- Synlight CrystalPioneer in the production of third-generation semiconductors (SiC).
These partnerships enable GWM to ensure the chip supply and the development of autonomous driving systems e vehicle intelligence, essential elements to comply with Strategy 2025.
Global expansion: new markets and local production
Growth in foreign sales
Last year, GWM exceeded expectations in international markets:
- 142,793 units exported in 2021, 103.7 % more than in 2020.
- Accumulated foreign salesmore than 900,000 units in total, with a presence in more than 170 countries.
- Consolidated marketsRussia, Australia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Chile continue to lead demand for GWM vehicles.
New marketsGWM strengthened its strategy in Thailand and Europe, and entered emerging territory in Egypt, Nepal, Brunei, Pakistan and Laos.
New plants and strategic locations
To optimize the local production and streamlining the supply chain, GWM promoted several projects in 2021:
- Rayong Plant (Thailand)started production, supplying the Southeast Asian market.
- Acquisition of the Iracemápolis plant (Brazil)Art - Future“ project to produce 100,000 units per year starting in 2023.
- European HeadquartersThe company is based in Germany (Munich) for R&D, sales and management, with a team that will grow to nearly 300 members by 2022.
These facilities support the company's strategy of global nature GWM, allowing for greater proximity to local consumers and reduced logistical costs.
Recognition and future prospects
Awards and brand positioning
During 2021, GWM received multiple awards that reinforce its reputation:
- BrandZ 2021included among the 50 best global brands in China.
- CACSI 2021Automotive Customer Satisfaction Awards: won numerous automotive customer satisfaction awards.
- “CHINA TOP 10 CORPORATE DESIGN CENTERS”for excellence in industrial and product design.
- Top 100 China's Best Employers 2021thanks to its talent and corporate culture policies.
Preparations for 2022 and beyond
In front of the transformation of the global automotive industry, GWM will continue:
- Committing to Strategy 2025: intensifying investment in R&D, electrification and intelligent driving technologies.
- Expand your product matrixwith new NEVs and hybrid models for different global market segments.
- Strengthening the user experienceDigital services, co-creation communities and OTA update platforms.
- Consolidating the ecological chainto secure the supply of semiconductors, batteries and key components to support the growing demand for NEV.
With this vision, GWM aims to reaching new heights of excellence and to continue to be a global benchmark for automotive technology.
Do you want to find out why GWM leads the automotive market with sales 2021 and your innovation in NEV? Visit your Ambacar dealer nearest you, try the latest electric and hybrid models and immerse yourself in an innovative and sustainable driving experience.
🚗 Take the first step into the electric future with GWM!
