GAC presents Aion UT compact electric vehicle

GAC Aion just announced its first electric vehicle for Europe. At the Guangzhou Auto Show in China, GAC presented its third model – the AION UT. As the Chinese carmaker refers to it as a “global model,” it is safe to assume that it will launch internationally. It will certainly hit the road in China, but under a different name. According to local media, it will be marketed under the name ‘Yingwulong’ and be positioned in the price range of 100,00 yuan (around 13,000 euros).

The AION UT comes with a lithium iron phosphate battery produced by GAC-owned Yinpai Battery Technology. The company has not given any details about the battery’s energy capacity or the car’s driving range. What is known is that the battery powers a 100 kW electric motor, facilitating a top speed of 150 kph. GAC presents the vehicle as compact, measuring 4.2 metres in length, 1.8 metres in width, and 1.5 metres in height.

The rounded design and the colour-contrasting roof, which is raised from the A-pillar upwards, are visually striking. The C-pillar is also in the same colour as the roof, creating a clear demarcation along the window line when viewed from the side. The front section of the Aion UT is closed. A variety of wheel designs and colour options are available to further ensure individuality.

Thanks to a 0.37-metre central touchscreen and a 0.22-metre digital instrument cluster, GAC equips the new model with a high-tech ambience, making information viewing easy. The vehicle provides seamless accessibility to multiple smartphone integration options, including HiCar, CarLink, and CarPlay, giving access to music, navigation, and other convenient services.  Moreover, GAC  designers integrated high-tech AI features for drivers to control navigation, seat adjustments, climate control, and defrosting features through simple voice commands.

Update 7 January 2025

GAC has kicked off pre-sales of its third electric model under the Aion brand in China. The Aion UT compact electric vehicle is currently available at prices starting at 89,800 yuan (around 11,800 euros), undercutting the starting price of its competitor BYD Dolphin by 10,000 yuan. However, later list prices may differ slightly from the pre-sale offers.

Three equipment lines of the Aion UT can be ordered in pre-sales, the most expensive of which is priced at 109,800 yuan (around 14,400 euros). However, the drive technology is the same in all versions. Since the premiere in November (see above), the energy content of the LFP battery is now also known: It comes to 44 kWh and should thus enable a range of 420 kilometres in the Chinese cycle. The charging time from 30 to 80 per cent is 24 minutes; the usual charging range in Europe from ten to 80 per cent is not specified.

GAC Aion sold 354,052 vehicles in China last year. With the low-cost compact model Aion UT, unit sales are likely to increase this year.

gac-motor.com, autonews.gasgoo.com, carnewschina.com (update)