In a landmark achievement for China’s automotive industry, GWM’s Hi4 hybrid four-wheel-drive technology has been awarded the Grand Prize of the 2025 Science and Technology (S&T) Award by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China SAE) — the highest honour in the country’s automotive sector.
The recognition, announced at the annual China SAE Awards in Chongqing, marks the first time in more than 30 years that a hybrid-drive innovation has received the Grand Prize. The award underscores GWM’s progress in core technology, safety, and performance — and its emergence as a world leader in intelligent hybrid engineering.
Hi4, short for Hybrid Intelligent 4-Wheel Drive, represents a breakthrough in off-road and hybrid vehicle design. Built on GWM’s “three power sources + nine operating modes” architecture, it combines smooth electric performance, fuel efficiency, and strong all-terrain capability. The system’s twin-motor, multi-gear, series-parallel setup allows true four-wheel drive — a global first for hybrid platforms.
GWM has also advanced battery safety and off-road intelligence through innovations like an ultra-protected off-road battery pack and an AI-powered driving recognition system capable of detecting 32 off-road conditions with 99% accuracy.
Since its launch in 2023, Hi4-equipped vehicles have sold over 410,000 units globally, boosting GWM’s new-energy off-road market share in China from 10% in 2020 to 52% in 2024. The technology now powers vehicles across Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Kazakhstan, earning international praise for combining strength, efficiency, and intelligent performance.
Industry experts call the award a milestone for China’s automotive innovation, cementing GWM’s position as a global technology pioneer.
“The Grand Prize recognises not only GWM’s commitment to innovation but its ability to redefine hybrid performance worldwide,” the company said in a statement. “Hi4 represents the future of intelligent mobility — safe, powerful, and efficient across every terrain.”
