China's GAC Motor confirms Australian interest

One of China’s largest car-makers, GAC Motor, is considering an expansion into right-hand drive markets including Australia in the coming years.

Speaking to motoring.com.au at the Paris motor show this week, where GAC Motor officially launched its European operations, company president Yu Jun revealed the car-maker was considering entering right-hand drive markets in the near future.

“It’s a big market globally, right-hand drive, so we will consider it,” he said. “One day we will consider going to Australia.”

GAC Motor is clearly on an upward trajectory outside of its home market. Founded in 1997, the company initially produced cars through joint-venture partnerships in China, including with FCA, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota.

Now, the state-owned manufacturer is investing heavily in new technologies and fronted at Paris with several models including the GS5 mid-size SUV.

“Today is the first reveal of the GS5 in Europe and I would like to say that we are studying how to enter the European market, so which product and which way to come here is still in discussion,” Yu Jun said.

The GS5 follows in the wheel tracks of the earlier GS3 and GS4, and was developed by GAC’s Shanghai and US R&D centres.

The GS5 is powered by the car-maker’s third-generation 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which sends drive via a six-speed Aisin automatic.

GAC Motor’s new path comes as Chinese-built vehicles continue finding favour with more buyers in Australia.

After what is best described as a slow start, with the demise of brands including Cherry, Great Wall and Geely, manufacturers including LDV are finding some traction with Australian buyers, albeit from a low base.

GAC Motor production has grown from 17,000 vehicles in 2011 to more than 500,000 vehicles in 2017.