GWM Tank 300 Diesel heads to Antarctica as official support vehicle
Words: Kyle Cassidy
GWM’s Tank 300 Diesel has been selected as an official vehicle for China’s Antarctic and Arctic Expeditions, marking the first time a mass-production Chinese SUV will be used unmodified in polar conditions.
The appointment follows a partnership between GWM and the Polar Research Institute of China (PRIC), which evaluated the Tank 300 for its off-road capability, low-temperature reliability, and fuel adaptability.
Built for the world’s harshest environments
During validation testing at GWM’s environmental wind tunnel laboratory, the Tank 300 Diesel successfully started, defrosted, and heated at -30°C while simulating polar blizzard conditions.
Read more – 2025 GWM Tank 300 Ultra Diesel review
Power comes from a 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engine, which GWM says has been tested for 14,000 hours on the bench and validated over 4.2 million kilometres of real-world testing.
“The Tank 300’s selection for Antarctic expeditions validates what our owners already know — this is a vehicle built to handle the world’s most extreme conditions,” said Steve Maciver, Head of Marketing and Communications at GWM Australia.
“From the Australian Outback to Antarctica, the Tank 300 delivers uncompromising reliability and performance, no matter what it encounters.”
Global R&D, local expertise
GWM’s polar partnership highlights its expanding global R&D network, spanning ten sites across seven countries, including Japan, Germany, and the United States. The brand is currently advancing over 110 R&D projects in powertrain development, hybrid technology, and intelligent driving systems.
As part of its “At One” philosophy, GWM says every vehicle will be tuned for local conditions by mid-2026, ensuring its models are suited to the unique demands of Australasian terrain.
