GAC’s Electric Brand Aion to Enter European Market
Chinese automaker GAC Group is expanding its presence to Europe with its electric vehicle brand, Aion. The brand’s initial European offerings will include an SUV and a compact car, with the latter being designed by GAC’s Milan-based design studio.
The compact city car, known as the Aion UT (Urban Traffic), boasts a design inspired by Milan fashion, as advertised by Aion on its Chinese website with the slogan “Milan Fashion.” GAC has operated its Milan design studio for three years, leveraging European design expertise to create vehicles that appeal to local markets.
GAC is taking a cautious approach to its European launch, with Thomas Schemera, Global COO, stating that establishing a sales organization is their first priority. Currently, GAC has a company headquarters in Amsterdam and a design studio in Milan. The larger SUV, Aion V, will debut in Poland, Portugal, and Israel this year, with the Aion UT following in 2026.
The Aion UT is described as the Chinese equivalent of the Mini, having sold 10,000 units in China during the first two months of the year. The vehicle features electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation and heating, a 14.6-inch central screen for navigation and entertainment, and a storage compartment with a wireless smartphone charging pad.
Key Specifications of Aion UT
- Dimensions: 4.27 meters in length, 1.85 meters in width, and 1.58 meters in height
- Power: 150 kW electric motor
- Battery: 60 kWh, expected to provide a WLTP range of 430 km
- Charging: Charges from 30% to 80% in 24 minutes
- Safety Features: Level 2 driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist
While the exact pricing for the European market remains undisclosed, Schemera acknowledges that Aion will need to be competitively priced. In China, a comparable version of the Aion UT costs approximately 11,000 euros. With EU homologation costs, export expenses, and tariffs, the European price is expected to be around or slightly above 30,000 euros.
GAC, or Guangzhou Automobile Company, is a state-owned automaker that has been collaborating with international partners like Toyota and Honda for the Chinese market. The company sold 436,000 electric vehicles last year, showcasing its growing presence in the EV sector.
