The Wey V8X has been introduced as a new large luxury SUV from GWM. Despite the name it lacks either of the automaker new V8 engines.

Instead the V8X shown in Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filings shared by industry observers signals an imminent launch there. It is a five-seat electric edition of the flagship V9X unveiled earlier this year for the luxury Wey brand.

Wey has been confirmed for an Australian launch this year although GWM has not specified which models will arrive here.

While the V8X and V9X appear identical at first glance closer inspection shows the V8X is shorter at 5000-5040mm versus the 5205-5299mm V9X. That places it near the size of the Tank 500 already sold here by GWM yet the V8X uses car-like unibody construction.

The wheelbase spans 2968mm compared with 3050mm in the standard V9X and 3150mm in extended-length versions.

The V8X appears in government filings with a dual-motor all-wheel drive electric powertrain that includes a 220kW front motor and a 320kW rear motor for a combined 540kW output.

The V9X was confirmed at this year Beijing motor show to offer hybrid plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains and is already on sale in China with a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine plus multiple battery options.

Only the V8X exterior appeared in the filing yet it may closely mirror the V9X cabin.

The large SUV includes a 29-inch augmented reality head-up display a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 17.3-inch central and passenger-side touchscreens.

Additional features comprise a 21.4-inch second-row screen soft-close doors a 31-speaker 3080W sound system and a heating and cooling refrigerator.

GWM confirmed in October 2025 it would launch its luxury Wey brand in Australia in mid-2026. Like other GWM brands Haval Ora and Tank it will operate as a sub-brand.

However GWM has stayed quiet on exact Wey models for this market. It confirmed earlier this month that it still plans to bring Wey here before the end of 2026 and will expand the brand reach into the large SUV and MPV segments marking the start of its premium vehicle strategy for Australia.

Like GWM other sub-brands Wey vehicles will carry a GWM badge at the rear and the logo of their sub-brand at the front.

The Wey brand offers just four models in China with the V8X soon raising that total to five. Besides the V9X flagship there is the Gaoshan luxury people mover and two other SUVs the Mocha and the Blue Mountain.

The Mocha entered production in 2021 so it is unlikely to arrive here given it nears the end of its lifecycle. The Gaoshan and Blue Mountain entered production in 2023.

The plug-in hybrid Gaoshan people mover is already built in right-hand drive for various Asian markets where it is known as the GWM Wey G9. If launched here it will face a growing number of luxurious Chinese people movers including the GAC M8.

There is a growing range of premium Chinese brands in Australia too with Zeekr soon to be joined by Avatr and Hongqi also eyeing a local launch.