The EMD G22C Series were first introduced in 1968 to replace the popular G12 along with various improvements. They carried a low per axle weight on their Flexicoil Type-GC trucks and were the first model series to have a low nose as a standard option as well.
The G22 series now carries a U or W suffix after the model designation to indicate the type of traction motors. A C indicates six-axle C trucks, while a 4 indicates six-axle A1A trucks (only four of them powered); although there never has been an indication of A1A trucks until 1993.
The designations could apply to any kind of export locomotive design of EMD or another licensee of EMD as long as the electrical & mechanical gear was left unaltered.