The WEY Latte PHEV (badged as the WEY 03 in European markets) is a C-segment plug-in hybrid SUV produced under Great Wall Motor’s (GWM) premium WEY marque. Serving as a crucial pioneer in the brand’s electrification drive, the Latte PHEV was once positioned as WEY’s core contender in the mainstream family SUV segment, underpinned by the potent performance and fuel efficiency of the Lemon Hybrid DHT powertrain.
Marketed as an intelligent family SUV, the Latte PHEV is engineered to balance effortless urban commuting with frugal long-distance cruising, courtesy of its advanced hybrid setup and upmarket cabin appointments.
Key Highlights: Lemon Hybrid DHT, Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), Premium Cabin, Executive Comfort.
Design & Packaging: On the outside, the SUV showcases WEY’s signature "Pioneer Tension" styling cues, while the cabin marries tech-forward appointments with a plush finish. The interior offers a practical, well-packaged layout tailored for family duties and occupant comfort, standing as a prime example of WEY’s dedicated focus on the family vehicle segment.
Core Strength: At its heart is GWM’s proprietary Lemon Hybrid DHT system. Capable of seamlessly toggling between various drive modes across different driving conditions, it strikes an exceptional balance between punchy output and fuel economy, serving as a vital technological cornerstone for the brand’s early NEV line-up.
Background: Amid the rapid boom in China's PHEV market, GWM introduced the Latte DHT and its subsequent PHEV variant built upon the Lemon hybrid architecture. The move was aimed at capturing market share in the mainstream PHEV SUV arena with a distinctive hybrid technical route, going head-to-head with rivals like the BYD Song PLUS DM-i.
Key Milestones:
2022–2023: The Latte PHEV debuted in China, quickly turning heads with its refined, linear power delivery and commendable electric driving range.
Late 2023: WEY embarked on its global expansion, launching the Latte PHEV in Europe under the WEY 03 nameplate, where it secured a prestigious five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, highlighting its robust crashworthiness credentials.
2026 Status: Following GWM WEY’s strategic model portfolio realignment and the debut of next-generation architectures (such as the Guiyuan S platform), the Latte PHEV has gradually stepped back from frontline sales in the Chinese domestic market. Focus has shifted towards export market support and elevating the brand into more premium segments (such as the V9X flagship range). The SUV remains on sale in Europe, serving as an essential overseas foothold for WEY's global footprint.
Competitive Landscape: During its prime lifecycle in China, the SUV went toe-to-toe with segment benchmarks such as the BYD Song PLUS DM-i. While it stood out for its superior mechanical refinement and silky-smooth ride, broader dealership restructuring and marketing shifts prevented it from maintaining a sustained sales lead.
Owner Feedback: Drivers widely praise its supple ride quality and suspension damping, noting that the powertrain transition feels remarkably seamless and superior to many segment rivals. However, some owners have noted that the infotainment system's response times have begun to feel slightly dated in light of rapid industry advancements.
Lemon Hybrid DHT System: Pairing a high-thermal-efficiency petrol engine with a dual-motor series-parallel setup, the powertrain intelligently switches between pure EV, series, and parallel drive modes. This delivers instantaneous throttle response alongside superior fuel economy during high-speed highway cruising.
Smart Cockpit: Equipped with a multi-display interactive setup, it previously featured a dedicated climate control touchscreen beneath the central infotainment unit, providing intuitive controls alongside intelligent voice command capabilities and remote telematics.
Safety Credentials: Built as a global model, the SUV strictly adheres to rigorous European design and crash-test standards, utilising high-tensile steel body construction and mature battery protection technology to deliver comprehensive active and passive safety protection.
As of 2026, the Latte PHEV’s role within the brand portfolio has evolved:
Model Succession: In China, WEY’s latest generation of high-end flagship SUVs (such as the V9X series) has taken over the mantle, signalling the brand’s strategic pivot from compact family crossovers towards luxury full-size SUVs and intelligent mobility flagships.
Global Presence: Across overseas markets like Europe, the vehicle remains an active ambassador for WEY's brand equity and product capability, with GWM continuously maintaining the ownership experience via over-the-air (OTA) software updates and dedicated aftersales support.
Technical Heritage: The calibration expertise garnered from the Lemon Hybrid DHT and the stringent Euro NCAP compliance processes established during the Latte PHEV era have been fully absorbed into WEY's next-gen platform development, continuously empowering upcoming flagship models.
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