In a historic first for China’s automotive industry, GWM’s “Hybrid 4-Wheel-Drive Intelligent Off-Road Passenger Vehicles: Key Technologies & Applications” project— known as Hi4 technology— has been awarded the Grand Prize of the Science and Technology (S&T) Award by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (China SAE) for 2025. The honor, announced at the Society’s annual awards ceremony held in Chongqing, highlights the project’s breakthroughs in power performance, battery safety and off-road capability — and acknowledges how it fills multiple global technology gaps.
As one of the most prestigious and credible awards in China’s auto industry, the China SAE grand prize is approved by the state and judged by an authoritative panel led by academician Li Jun, bringing together veteran industry figures, prominent university professors and chief engineers from leading enterprises. The 2025 accolade marks the first time in the past 30 + years that a hybrid‐drive technology has been granted the Grand Prize — a clear signal that GWM’s Hi4 technology has achieved world-class status and that the company’s commitment to independent innovation and deep investment in core technology has reached a new milestone.
GWM’s Hi4 technology, represents the company’s global first in intelligent four-wheel-drive hybrid technology. Utilizing an innovative “three power sources + nine operating mode” architecture and the iTVC system, the Hi4 technology delivers on the driving experience promise of fast, smooth, quiet, economical, and safe across all scenarios. But more than a single technology, GWM’s Hi4 technology is a comprehensive hybrid technology family, strategically developed to precisely serve diverse real-world driving conditions and meet global users’ dual demands for efficiency and performance.
At the heart of the Hi4 technology lies a series of fundamental breakthroughs — not just a re-shape of the propulsion system, but a systematic solution to previously “showstopper” challenges. On the drivetrain side, Hi4 technology introduces a world-first twin-motor multi-gear series-parallel 4-wheel-drive architecture, breaking through the technical limitation of traditional series-parallel systems that cannot achieve full 4-wheel drive. This platform lays the intelligent four-wheel-drive technical foundation across multiple vehicle types and scenarios, advancing GWM’s vision of “four-wheel drive for all” from concept to reality.
Beyond the drivetrain, the Hi4 technology also achieves global-first innovations in battery safety and off-road intelligence. Its off-road-dedicated battery pack offers full-temperature-domain power delivery and high-level protection, placing its safety performance at the international leading edge. Meanwhile, GWM’s self-developed off-road intelligent recognition control system can accurately identify 32 off-road scenarios and 3 urban driving modes, with a recognition accuracy of up to 99% — effectively resolving the misuse risk inherent in traditional driving modes.
Since its launch in May 2023, vehicles equipped with the Hi4 technology have achieved global cumulative sales of some 410,000 units by end-2024. In its home market of China, the Hi4 technology has propelled GWM’s hardcore new-energy off-road segment from a 10% market share in 2020 to 52% in 2024. Internationally, Hi4-equipped models have been exported to key markets including Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Kazakhstan.
The Hi4 technology has also won authoritative praise from leading overseas media. In Australia, Drive called the Hi4-T “technologically advanced and very ingenious,” noting its “perfect blend of strong off-road capability and fuel economy.” In Mexico, Motor y Tecnología hailed Hi4 as “a revolution” offering off-road enthusiasts “strength and durability.” In Kazakhstan, Kursiv.kz said the system “makes off-road vehicles smarter and more efficient — without any compromise on passability.” These global accolades underscore how Hi4 technology is reshaping worldwide expectations of hybrid off-road performance.
With humility and sincerity, GWM reaffirmed its user-centric, technology-driven commitment, pledging to continue delivering outstanding experiences to customers around the world.
