TANK Sets Its Sights on the Legendary Dakar Rally
Chinese automotive group Great Wall Motor (GWM) has officially announced its entry into the 2027 Dakar Rally, one of the world’s toughest and most iconic motorsport events. The spotlight will be on the flagship body-on-frame SUV, the TANK 700. The announcement was made during the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
Built for Serious Off-Road Challenges
The TANK 700 is a full-size body-on-frame SUV powered by a 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 354 horsepower. Equipped with low-range gearing, differential locks, advanced off-road geometry, and a highly durable chassis, the vehicle was engineered to handle demanding terrain and extreme driving conditions.
The Dakar-spec racing version will undergo extensive modifications to meet competition requirements while retaining the core architecture of the production model. For the TANK brand, participation in the Dakar Rally represents an opportunity to prove the platform’s real-world capabilities in one of the harshest automotive endurance tests on the planet.
A Chinese Automotive Giant with a Strong Presence in Kazakhstan
Today, GWM is one of China’s leading automotive manufacturers, bringing together brands such as Haval, TANK, Wey, ORA, and its pickup truck division. The group operates its own manufacturing facilities, R&D centers, and testing grounds, backed by years of investment in vehicle development for diverse driving environments worldwide.
GWM has been present in Kazakhstan since 2021 as part of the Astana Motors portfolio. Over the past few years, the company has established a nationwide dealer network consisting of 33 modern dealerships.
The TANK brand, in particular, has seen rapid growth. In just three years, more than 5,500 customers in Kazakhstan have chosen TANK vehicles. Around the brand, an active owners’ community known as TANKZ has emerged. Today, the club brings together around 2,000 members united by a passion for travel, expeditions, and off-road culture. Together, they have covered more than 30,000 kilometers — equivalent to more than three Dakar Rally routes.
Expedition of TANK Club Participants
GWM’s position in Kazakhstan is also being strengthened through local production. At the multi-brand Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan plant in Almaty, the company produces its full lineup — from the affordable and well-established Haval M6 to the technologically advanced TANK 500. More recently, GWM pickup trucks, including the Poer and Wingle 7, have also entered local production in Kazakhstan.
Experience Backed by Results
GWM’s relationship with the Dakar Rally is not new. Between 2010 and 2014, the company actively competed in the legendary rally raid, and in 2014, the HAVAL H8 Dakar prototype secured a stage victory during the race.
Today, GWM returns in a very different position — with a stronger engineering foundation, broader global ambitions, and the TANK brand, which has become one of the most prominent players in the body-on-frame SUV segment.
More Than Just a Race
The Dakar Rally is often romanticized as a story of speed, freedom, and conquering the desert. In reality, it is nearly 9,000 kilometers of sand, rocks, mountain passes, extreme heat, and relentless pressure on both drivers and machinery.
Over the years, Dakar has become a proving ground where endurance, engineering precision, and the ability to survive the distance matter most.
That is why GWM’s return to Dakar is being seen as a bold statement — not only for the TANK brand, but for the automotive group as a whole.