GAC confirmed for Australia in 2025

Chinese auto giant Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has confirmed plans to launch in Australia in 2025.

The state-owned car-maker, which has a joint-venture with Toyota, has already revealed plans to release a small Corolla-sized electric hatchback Down Under next year under its Aion sub-brand, which be an EV-only marque like Tesla.

But the GAC brand itself will offer a range of larger vehicles fitted with more conventional powertrains in the form of plugless hybrids (HEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

Models under consideration for the launch phase of GAC-badged products in Australia include a pair of large SUVs – the GS8 hybrid that incorporates Toyota’s petrol-electric technology and the ES9 plug-in hybrid.

The large SUVs are equivalent in size to the Toyota Kluger and Kia Sorento and, like those popular Japanese and Korean family wagons, both will be available with seven seats and all the trimmings expected of any new vehicle today.

We’ve already road-tested the GAC GS8, which nabbed a respectable review score of 76/100.

The M8 and E9 people-movers are also on the shortlist to launch the GAC brand Down Under within 18 months.

Some of these GAC models wear Trumpchi badges in China but it’s understood that particular branding will be dropped for export markets like Australia, where GAC badges will be seen instead.

Pricing for the new models is not known at present but, as with most Chinese brands, expect the GAC product portfolio to be accompanied by compelling price points.

Local distribution and aftersales support for both GAC and Aion vehicles will be handled by official importer AGA Auto Australia, which is yet to formally announce its plans but says a 2025 launch is being targeted.

“GAC and Aion will likely hit our shores on a similar timeframe in 2025,” AGA chief operating officer Charles Lau told carsales.

“While Aion will be reserved for pure-electric BEV, GAC will be representing PHEV and HEV.

“GAC has been the JV partner of Toyota for almost two decades and some of their domestic models utilise the Toyota Hybrid System [THS] in their vehicles,” he added.

“Various vehicles are under consideration for the market, but the models that are high on the list are the MPVs like M8, E9 and large-sized SUVs including the GS8 and ES9.”

Never heard of GAC before? You’re not alone – most Aussies won’t have.

The global heavy-hitter already sells vehicles across much of Asia, Central America, the Middle East and Russia, and it plans to eventually introduce a full range of electrified vehicles in Australia.

GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group) is rebranding itself in mature export markets with the ‘Go and change’ catchcry, not unlike the ‘Go with more’ slogan of GWM (formerly Great Wall Motors).

GAC and Aion will be among at least six new Chinese auto brands to set up shop in Australia this year or next, bringing the total number to at least a dozen including existing brands MG, BYD, LDV, GWM, Chery and JAC.

MG is already a top-10 player here and both BYD and Chery – including its upcoming Jaecoo premium brand – plan to quickly be among Australia’s five most popular car marques.

Given the meteoric rise of Japanese brands like Toyota, Mazda and Nissan since the 1970s, followed by the market success of Korean brands Hyundai and Kia since the 1990s, affordable models from Chinese brands could well become mainstream household names Down Under this decade.

Australia has long been one of the world’s most mature and competitive auto markets and, although it’s relatively small, its close proximity to Asia and its tightening safety and emissions standards make it the ideal testbed for Chinese car-makers with export eyes on Europe and North America.

The upside for Aussies is that because this market is already one of the most heavily populated on the planet with more than 50 brands from Asia, Europe and the US present here, new-car buyers will become even more spoiled for choice by the end of next year as brands like GAC, Aion, Geely, Leapmotor and Lynk & Co arrive.

Apart from offering strong value, Chinese brands are also typically well-versed with hybrids and EVs, which could further upset the market status quo in Australia as the nation’s first new-vehicle emissions standard comes into effect from 2025.

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