Chine
Wey
Wey (stylized WEY) is a Chinese automotive brand launched on November 16, 2016 by automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM), which was itself founded in 1984 in Baoding, in Hebei province. The brand's name comes from the surname of Wei Jianjun (sometimes transcribed as "Jack Wey"), chairman and leading figure of Great Wall Motors, who led the company from the early 1990s to make it one of China's largest private automakers, first known for its pickups and Haval SUVs. Wey was conceived as the group's "premium" brand, positioned above Haval: its stated goal was to offer affordable luxury crossovers and SUVs, initially built on technical foundations shared with Haval. Wey is thus presented as one of the first Chinese brands to openly target the luxury SUV segment, with an international team of designers and engineers spread across several countries. The first models, the VV series (VV5, VV6, VV7), were launched from 2017 onward and offered in plug-in hybrid versions (P8, VV7 PHEV). In March 2021, GWM split off the Tank line of off-road models, which was then part of Wey, to make it a separate brand. Wey then refocused its lineup on a so-called "Coffee" series (Mocha, Latte, Macchiato in China), consisting of heavily electrified SUVs and crossovers. The brand undertook an international expansion: in late 2022, GWM announced Wey's arrival in Germany and France, notably with the Coffee 01, a large plug-in hybrid SUV. More recently, the Chinese lineup has grown with models such as the Gaoshan (minivan), the Lanshan, and the V9X (large SUVs). In North America, Wey is not sold: neither Canada nor the United States is among the markets where the brand is officially present, making it an automaker still largely unknown to the Quebec consumer.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireChinoises
History
History of Wey
Wey (stylized WEY) is a Chinese automotive brand launched on November 16, 2016 by automaker Great Wall Motors (GWM), which was itself founded in 1984 in Baoding, in Hebei province. The brand's name comes from the surname of Wei Jianjun (sometimes transcribed as "Jack Wey"), chairman and leading figure of Great Wall Motors, who led the company from the early 1990s to make it one of China's largest private automakers, first known for its pickups and Haval SUVs. Wey was conceived as the group's "premium" brand, positioned above Haval: its stated goal was to offer affordable luxury crossovers and SUVs, initially built on technical foundations shared with Haval. Wey is thus presented as one of the first Chinese brands to openly target the luxury SUV segment, with an international team of designers and engineers spread across several countries. The first models, the VV series (VV5, VV6, VV7), were launched from 2017 onward and offered in plug-in hybrid versions (P8, VV7 PHEV). In March 2021, GWM split off the Tank line of off-road models, which was then part of Wey, to make it a separate brand. Wey then refocused its lineup on a so-called "Coffee" series (Mocha, Latte, Macchiato in China), consisting of heavily electrified SUVs and crossovers. The brand undertook an international expansion: in late 2022, GWM announced Wey's arrival in Germany and France, notably with the Coffee 01, a large plug-in hybrid SUV. More recently, the Chinese lineup has grown with models such as the Gaoshan (minivan), the Lanshan, and the V9X (large SUVs). In North America, Wey is not sold: neither Canada nor the United States is among the markets where the brand is officially present, making it an automaker still largely unknown to the Quebec consumer.
Public founding or origin of Wey.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Wey relies on the platforms and electrified powertrains developed by Great Wall Motors. The brand bet early on plug-in hybrid (PHEV) technology with its in-house "DHT" (dedicated hybrid transmission) system. The Coffee 01, for example, combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors via a dual-clutch gearbox, paired with a battery of about 40 kWh offering up to nearly 150 km of electric range (WLTP) and high combined output. GWM says it is developing all-electric powertrains and hydrogen fuel cells in parallel. On the equipment side, Wey models emphasize advanced driver assistance, electromechanical braking (iBooster), recent ESP systems, and generous technology features (large screens, connectivity). The brand claims an R&D network spread across several countries.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
Premium brand from Great Wall Motors specializing in affordable, heavily electrified luxury SUVs and crossovers, sold mainly in China.
Reputation
As a recent brand with little presence outside China, Wey has a still-limited reliability track record that is hard to assess over the long term. European reviews of the Coffee 01 praise the richness of its equipment, the high electric range for a plug-in hybrid, and the long warranty (five years), while pointing to vague steering and a character geared more toward comfort than sportiness. Resale value remains uncertain outside Asia, given the lack of an established network, brand awareness, and historical perspective. Absent from North America, the brand has no resale rating and no reputation built up in Quebec, which calls for caution from a local buyer.
Strengths
Wey combines accessible premium positioning, strong electrification (long-range plug-in hybrid, in-house DHT technology), and generous technology features at a contained price compared to established luxury brands. The industrial and financial backing of Great Wall Motors, the long warranty, and a refined design rank among its most tangible assets.
Points to watch
Wey remains a young brand, little known outside China and entirely absent from North America: no dealer, parts, or service network in Quebec. Long-term reliability and resale value lack historical perspective. Reviews note unengaging handling and a brand heritage still thin compared to traditional premium automakers.
Models
Wey models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Wey is produced at Great Wall Motors' facilities. In China, GWM operates around ten full-assembly sites, including the historic Baoding complex (Hebei). Internationally, the group has full-assembly plants in Thailand (the Rayong new-energy vehicle plant), Brazil (a site in the state of São Paulo, operational since 2025), and Russia, as well as parts-assembly lines in countries such as Pakistan and Ecuador. None of these plants are located in North America, and Wey neither assembles nor sells vehicles there, as the continent is not among its markets.
Tires and wheels
Since Wey vehicles are essentially premium SUVs and crossovers, they generally run large alloy wheels, typically from 18 to 21 inches depending on the model and trim. The Coffee 01, for example, comes from the factory with 265/45R21 tires on 8.5Jx21 wheels, with an alternative fitment in 255/50R20. As with most modern Asian SUVs, the expected bolt pattern is a 5-lug type, to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis. For these heavy, powerful vehicles, properly sized tires with appropriate load ratings are important. In Quebec, dedicated winter tires (often mounted on a second set of smaller-diameter wheels, for example 18 or 19 inches, to reduce cost and improve traction) are mandatory and strongly recommended.