GWM is back in the game, and this time, it’s bringing the showroom to the sand dunes. On May 20, the 2025 Taklimakan Rally—known as the “Dakar of Asia”—roared to life in the unforgiving expanse of China’s largest desert. A decade after clinching the overall championship, GWM (Great Wall Motor) returns to this legendary stage with an unprecedented approach: competing with a full lineup of mass-production vehicles, all built to the same specs sold to customers.
Mass-Produced, Battle-Ready: A Rally First
In a bold demonstration of confidence and engineering grit, GWM enters the race with models from three major product lines: HAVAL, TANK, and POER. This includes the HAVAL B26 (gasoline), HAVAL H9 (diesel), TANK300 Hi4-T, TANK400 Hi4-T, TANK500 Hi4-Z, and the GWM POER V6.
No special prototypes here—every competing vehicle uses the same engine and transmission as those available in GWM dealerships. Only essential safety modifications have been made. This move puts GWM’s R&D, durability, and quality assurance under real-world stress, turning the Taklimakan Rally into the ultimate product proving ground.
Three Teams, One Mission: Dominate the Desert
The HAVAL Team:
With two B26 and two H9 models, HAVAL stands tall as the torchbearer for traditional hardcore SUVs. Competing in both gasoline and diesel categories, the team reflects HAVAL’s “global SUV expert” DNA. Their presence showcases real-world off-road performance, bridging daily driving with desert domination.
The TANK Hi4 Team:
In a major leap forward, TANK enters the newly minted NEV (New Energy Vehicle) class with the TANK300, 400, and 500 Hi4 series—marking GWM’s first NEV rally entry. Designed to test the limits of electrified power in extreme conditions, these hybrid beasts face brutal heat, long distances, and technical terrain—all while optimizing energy efficiency. It’s innovation vs. nature, and TANK is here to set new standards.
The POER V6 Team:
GWM’s pickup powerhouse, the POER V6, takes center stage in the high-performance truck category. Its self-developed 3.0T turbocharged engine delivers raw, unrelenting torque—launching this pickup into the top tier of global off-road competition. In a sea of dunes and dust, POER is a force to be reckoned with.
The Race: 4,500 Kilometers of Unforgiving Terrain
The Race: 4,500 Kilometers of Unforgiving TerrainStretching across 4,500 kilometers—including 2,350 kilometers of special stages—the 2025 Taklimakan Rally runs through Xinjiang’s harshest landscapes, including Aksu, Kashgar, and Hotan. With 65% of the route carved through deep desert, racers must tackle shifting dunes, Gobi gravel, and jagged Yardang formations.
It’s a pressure-cooker for both machines and men. Drivers need razor-sharp focus and endurance, while vehicles face rigorous tests in chassis durability, powertrain cooling, suspension resilience, and 4WD responsiveness. Every stage is an engineering stress test in motion.
Beyond the Finish Line: A Rally of Innovation and Identity
The Taklimakan Rally isn’t just a race—it’s a lab, a battlefield, and a brand statement all in one. For GWM, it offers critical data collection, issue validation, and real-time product feedback. But more than that, it’s a cultural touchpoint, where the brand’s “Smart Off-Road” vision meets the raw challenge of nature.
By racing with mass-production models, GWM sends a powerful message: our vehicles are made to perform—not just on the streets, but in the harshest terrains on Earth.
A New Chapter in Off-Road Excellence
A New Chapter in Off-Road ExcellenceRunning from May 20 to June 1, the 2025 Taklimakan Rally is already capturing the attention of motorsport fans and off-road enthusiasts worldwide. GWM’s daring return, fueled by technology and production authenticity, is more than a comeback—it’s a redefinition of what it means to race.
As the dust settles in the desert, one thing is clear: GWM isn’t just competing. It’s proving.