Winning with a Mass-Produced Vehicle, GWM Redefines Off-Road Culture

AKSU CITY, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the 2025 Taklimakan Rally in China, GWM made a powerful impact with its “All-Terrain Team,” comprising the GWM HAVAL, GWM TANK, and GWM POER vehicle series. The team clinched dual championships in both the T2.E Production New Energy category and the T2.1 Production Gasoline category, showcasing the unique off-road advantages of PHEV models and emerging as the event’s biggest winner.

Driver Yao Weiqiang embodied true off-road spirit in Stage SS2, stopping to help a stranded team despite the time loss. Thanks to his skill and the vehicle’s performance, he still finished first. “At the Taklimakan Rally, you can lose the race, but never your integrity,” he said.

During Stage SS5 at the Moyu Hongbaishan segment, the GWM POER V6 team stopped to tow a disabled rally car for 60 kilometers to the finish line. The GWM HAVAL MENGLONG team also assisted trapped vehicles, fully demonstrating the rally’s core principle: “Safety first, competition second.”

The GWM team at the Taklimakan Rally embodies off-road heritage, led by 71-year-old veteran Liang Yuxiang, competing for the tenth consecutive year in the No. 223 GWM TANK 500 Hi4-Z. Despite the years, his passion remains strong. “The Taklimakan Rally makes me feel younger every year,” he says.

In the T2.1 Production Gasoline category, the father-son duo of He Zijian and He Wei delivered an exceptional performance, winning three stage championships.

The mother-daughter duo Sun Xiangyan and Ma Xin from the GWM HAVAL team tackled tough desert stages in the H9 diesel, breaking gender stereotypes and showing that off-roading is for everyone. Their determination showcased the strength women bring to the sport.

GWM’s presence at the Taklimakan Rally highlights not just technical strength, but a commitment to responsible off-road culture—emphasizing nature, sustainability, and teamwork. Its “General Internal Combustion Strategy,” covering gasoline, diesel, and hybrid powertrains, reflects global adaptability. As V6 POER driver Zhang Ya said, “In the desert, your vehicle is your lifeline. GWM’s reliability lets us focus on the journey.”

GWM’s journey through the Taklimakan Rally is a redefinition of what it means to "conquer." It is not about dominating nature, but about mastering oneself—with courage, technical reliability, team cohesion, and cultural continuity.