Chongqing, China — October 22, 2025 — In a landmark moment for China’s automotive industry, GWM has been awarded the Grand Prize of the 2025 Science and Technology (S&T) Award by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China SAE) for its pioneering project, “Hybrid 4-Wheel-Drive Intelligent Off-Road Passenger Vehicles: Key Technologies & Applications.” Known simply as Hi4 technology, the system represents a leap forward in hybrid innovation — recognized not only for redefining power performance, battery safety, and off-road intelligence, but also for closing several global technology gaps.
A First in Three Decades
The China SAE Grand Prize is among the country’s most prestigious automotive honors — approved by the state and judged by a panel of distinguished experts led by academician Li Jun. Over the years, it has celebrated groundbreaking research across powertrains, safety systems, and intelligent mobility. But this year’s award marks a historic first: in more than 30 years, a hybrid-drive technology has claimed the top honor.
This milestone is more than symbolic. It reflects GWM’s evolution from a domestic contender to a world-class innovator, one whose investment in independent research and development has redefined the hybrid landscape. The award signals not just recognition, but validation — that Hi4 technology stands among the best hybrid systems in the world today.
The Intelligence Behind Hi4
At its core, GWM’s Hi4 technology represents the world’s first intelligent four-wheel-drive hybrid architecture. The system integrates three power sources and nine operating modes with GWM’s self-developed iTVC (intelligent Torque Vectoring Control) system, ensuring seamless power distribution and dynamic adaptability across any terrain.
The result is a driving experience that’s fast, smooth, quiet, efficient, and safe — a rare combination that bridges the gap between traditional fuel-driven power and next-generation electrified mobility.
But Hi4 is more than a single breakthrough. It’s a comprehensive technology family, developed to adapt to diverse global road conditions and driver demands. Whether navigating urban streets, rugged mountain passes, or frozen trails, Hi4’s design philosophy prioritizes versatility, ensuring that hybrid efficiency never comes at the expense of off-road strength.
Breaking the Boundaries of Powertrain Design
One of Hi4’s most significant achievements lies in its world-first twin-motor multi-gear series-parallel 4WD architecture. This innovation eliminates the traditional limitation of hybrid systems that could not achieve full four-wheel drive — a constraint that once separated hybrids from true off-road vehicles.
By delivering independent control to all four wheels, Hi4 establishes a scalable technical foundation that can be applied across multiple vehicle categories, advancing GWM’s vision of “four-wheel drive for all.”
This system-level reimagining of the drivetrain not only enhances traction and torque management but also dramatically improves vehicle response and stability, setting new benchmarks in both efficiency and capability.
Safety, Strength, and Smarts
Beyond the drivetrain, GWM’s engineers have made equally groundbreaking advances in battery safety and off-road intelligence.
Hi4’s off-road-dedicated battery pack provides full-temperature-domain power delivery and robust physical protection, ensuring optimal performance in extreme climates — from desert heat to sub-zero conditions. In global benchmarking, this safety architecture has placed the Hi4 battery system at the forefront of international standards.
Complementing this is GWM’s off-road intelligent recognition control system, developed entirely in-house. Using advanced sensors and real-time computing, the system can recognize 32 off-road scenarios and 3 urban driving modes with 99% accuracy. It can predict terrain changes and adjust power distribution accordingly, resolving long-standing risks of mode misuse in conventional 4WD systems.
A Global Success Story
Since debuting in May 2023, GWM’s Hi4 technology has rapidly gained traction worldwide. By the end of 2024, over 410,000 vehicles equipped with Hi4 had been sold globally, fueling GWM’s rise as a leader in the hybrid off-road sector.
In China, the technology transformed GWM’s position in the hardcore new-energy SUV segment — growing its market share from 10% in 2020 to 52% in 2024. Internationally, Hi4-equipped vehicles have entered major markets including Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Kazakhstan, demonstrating strong global appeal.
The reception has been overwhelmingly positive.
- Drive (Australia) called Hi4-T “technologically advanced and very ingenious,” praising its perfect blend of fuel economy and off-road strength.
- Motor y Tecnología (Mexico) described it as “a revolution that offers off-road enthusiasts strength and durability.”
- Kursiv.kz (Kazakhstan) commended it for making off-road vehicles “smarter and more efficient — without any compromise on passability.”
These accolades underscore Hi4’s impact beyond China’s borders — reshaping expectations of what a hybrid powertrain can achieve.
Driving Forward with Innovation and Purpose
Receiving the China SAE Grand Prize represents more than an award for GWM — it’s a reaffirmation of a philosophy rooted in user-centered design and technological excellence.
With humility and determination, GWM has pledged to continue advancing intelligent electrification, deepening its investment in core hybrid systems, and ensuring that every innovation serves the ultimate goal: to deliver extraordinary driving experiences for users around the world.
As the automotive industry enters a new era of sustainable mobility, GWM’s Hi4 technology stands as a beacon — proving that intelligent hybrids can be powerful, efficient, and adventurous all at once.
