The GWM Steed bakkie – which launched soon after the Chinese brand’s arrival in South Africa way back in 2007 – has quietly exited the local market…
- Steed nameplate officially discontinued in SA
- Had served on local market for some 18 years
- P300 SX variants take over workhorse duties
It seems there’s no longer a “Need for Steed” in South Africa. Yes, after soldiering on for around 18 years, the GWM Steed nameplate has quietly exited the local new-vehicle market’s bustling bakkie segment.
We recently noticed the Steed – a model that launched shortly after the Chinese brand entered the local market back in 2007 – was no longer listed on GWM SA’s website. The automaker has since confirmed to Cars.co.za the Steed has indeed been discontinued, though points out it has “enhanced” the P300 range with the recent introduction of the SX grade (across both the single- and double-cab body styles).
GWM SA suggested the Steed was put out to pasture towards the end of 2025. Interestingly, though Steed sales dropped from 198 units in October to 100 units in November and then just 37 units in December, registrations spiked to 172 units in January 2026, including 100 examples sold via the rental channel. Expect any remaining new-vehicle stock to be depleted soon.
While local sales of the GWM Steed (known as the “Wingle” in its domestic market of China) increased 22.0% year on year to 1 460 units in 2025, the workhorse fell just short of cracking the list of South Africa’s 10 best-selling bakkies for the year.
From what we can tell, the single-cab versions of the Steed (offered in S and SX guise) were axed at some point earlier in 2025, leaving just a pair of double-cab derivatives. Before their discontinuation, these double cabs were priced at R390 150 in 4×2 guise and R423 350 in 4×4 form. Both variants employed a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine delivering 110 kW and 320 Nm via a 6-speed manual gearbox.
As a reminder, the Steed launched in South Africa back in 2008 (succeeding the Chinese brand’s initial Sailor- and Sing-based bakkies), the year after GWM officially entered the local market. Over the years, various iterations of the Steed were available in Mzansi.
After the launch of the P-Series late in 2020, the Steed 5E and Steed 6 were effectively phased out, leaving the workhorse Steed 5 – which infamously scored zero stars for adult-occupant protection in its 2020 Global NCAP crash-test (prompting GWM SA to make dual front airbags and ABS standard across the range) – to carry the nameplate in updated form. Now, however, that model’s time has come, too…
Find a used GWM Steed on Cars.co.za!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the GWM Steed’s Exit from South Africa
Q: Why has the GWM Steed been discontinued in South Africa?
A: After some 18 years on the local market, GWM has retired the Steed nameplate to make way for base versions of the more modern P-Series range. The move allows the brand to consolidate its bakkie offerings around the P300 and P500 platforms, which offer better safety standards and updated technology.
Q: What is the replacement for the GWM Steed workhorse?
A: The entry-level duties have been taken over by the GWM P300 SX. Available in both single- and double-cab configurations, the P300 SX is powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine producing 120 kW and 400 Nm, marking a power and torque increase over the outgoing Steed’s 110 kW/320 Nm outputs.
Q: Is the GWM Steed still a popular choice on the used market?
A: Yes. Despite being discontinued as a new vehicle, the Steed remains sought after in the pre-owned segment due to its affordability.
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