China’s GAC confirms ambitious factory-backed launch and sales plan in Australia this year

Look out BYD, GWM, MG, Geely and Chery, there’s another Chinese auto giant headed to Australia with big sales ambitions.

It’s called GAC – or Guangzhou Auto Group – and the plan is to arrive in Australia in October with a three-model line-up and a 30-dealer network from launch.

Within three years, it plans to have at least eight sharply priced models on sale here and be vying for a place among the top 10 sellers.

While you may have read about some local plans for GAC in the past, there have been significant changes behind the scenes in recent times.

Originally, an independent distributor called AGA Auto was going to launch the GAC brand and its EV spin-off Aion in Australia.

That plan has now been cancelled. A new factory-backed business called GAC International Australia has been established to manage operations in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

Jason Pecotic, an Australian automotive industry veteran with strong China links, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.

Under the new plan, models will be drawn from GAC’s three brands – Aion, mainstream Trumpchi and premium Hyptec - and sold together under the GAC badge in Australia and other international markets.

The Aion V mid-size SUV EV will be part of the launch line-up along with the Trumpchi E9 plug-in hybrid people-mover and the ICE-powered Trumpchi GS3 Emzoom small SUV.

Hyptec is not represented in the launch line-up. First known as Hyper, it is responsible for the production of the SSR hypercar.

The SSR is not part of the Australian launch line-up either.

GAC has also confirmed that an electric hatchback and hybrid/ICE SUV are due to be added to the line-up in 2026. In 2027, an electric hybrid/ICE SUV are in the Australian launch schedule along with a ute.

A ute concept named the Pickup 01 was revealed at the Shanghai auto show last April.

In China, the Aion V is powered by a choice of e-motors producing 150kW/240Nm or 165kW/240 and fed by a choice of LFP battery packs. It sits on GAC’s AEP EV platform and has a 400V electric architecture.

In Australia, a 510km rated range is being targeted. Five-star ANCAP safety ratings will also be a focus for GAC in Australia.

The Aion V measures up at 4605mm long, 1854mm wide, 1660mm high and has a 2775mm wheelbase.

Australia will get the second generation of the Aion V, that launched in China in 2024.

The E9 PHEV is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and an e-motor for a combined 274kW/630Nm output.

State-owned GAC is ranked fifth in the Chinese auto market, with more than two million sales in 2024.

Its Australian arrival is part of a widespread international export expansion by GAC. Like its many Chinese rivals, it is involved in a cut-throat sales battle at home and looking for more sales overseas.

GAC also has partnerships with Honda and Toyota to build cars in China. The Toyota link has given GAC access to the Japanese giant’s hybrid tech for its own vehicles, although whether that tech comes with GAC models in Australia is yet to be confirmed.

The linkage with Toyota and Honda will be a significant aid to GAC in establishing itself in Australia, a spokesman for the brand said.

“GAC has re-engineered Honda and Toyota into their own cars,” he said.

“They just don’t have the inherent or legacy problem that new or emerging brands have had coming into Australia.

“It’s like we’ve created another Toyota.”

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