Chinese newcomer GAC is planning an “impressive” ute
Details are next to non-existent, but local boss confirms there’s a load lugger comingThe News
High-ranking GAC officials have confirmed a dual-cab ute is in the brand’s “mid-term” product plan for Australia, joining the likes of BYD, GWM, LDV, MG and eventually Chery in one of our market’s most lucrative segments.
The Key Details
- GAC is planning a dual-cab ute with Aus in mind
- Details are very thin on the ground right now
- No indication if it will be a workhorse or recreational vehicle
- Local boss hints Aussies should find it “impressive”
The Finer Details
Speaking to carsales this week, GAC deputy general manager Cheney Liang couldn’t (or wouldn’t) divulge details on the incoming Chinese challenger brand’s dual-cab entry, but said it was committed to offering “impressive cars to the Australian customer”.
“It’s on our plan, yeah,” he said when asked directly about the prospects of a GAC-branded ute.
“But I think at this stage I cannot announce the exact date, but they are on our plan.”
Whether or not the last part of that sentence was indicative of multiple utes being on the planning board or a simple language barrier is unclear, but Liang was nonetheless adamant he couldn’t share anything further when pressed when pressed for more information, specifically as to if the GAC load lugger would be a true workhorse like a Mitsubishi Triton etc or more recreational like a BYD Shark 6.
“That’s why I said it’s a middle-term [product],” he said, referencing that such a decision was yet to be made.
Equally ambiguous is what sort of powertrain the ute might feature since GAC isn’t committed to any particular technology or fuel type; its three-model Australian launch portfolio will comprise an electric medium SUV, a turbo-petrol small SUV and a plug-in hybrid people carrier.
“We just want to give the customer more options because we have so many different models,” Liang said.
The Road Ahead
It’s doubtful the ute will be one of the eight models planned for local showrooms by 2028 – three in 2025, two in 2026, three in 2027 – but after that, it could be game on if 2028 marks the end of the local arm’s short-term product plan.
The brand has some major goals it wants to kick Down Under, including topping 33,000 annual sales and by default, becoming one of the 10 best-selling makes.
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