Three models from another new Chinese brand will hit Australian roads next month, with GAC — short for Guangzhou Automobile Group Company — set for a November 2025 launch.
Those that know their Chinese-market brands might recall GAC as a major joint venture partner of Toyota and Honda, but the manufacturer has its own range of sub-brands.
Under the GAC head brand, Australia will initially receive three models in total, sourced from Chinese sub-brands Trumpchi and Aion, with the premium Hyptec badge off the cards for now.
Specifics like pricing, retail locations, warranty and servicing arrangements have not been revealed today but are expected to be announced in the coming weeks — with only a short turnaround between now and the expected brand launch date.
Interestingly, GAC’s launch range will consist not only of three models but also three distinct powertrain types.
Smallest — and likely cheapest — of the launch set is the Emzoom small SUV. Known in China as the Trumpchi GS3, the Emzoom is a Haval Jolion, Omoda 5, Kia Seltos and Toyota Corolla Cross rival.
Measuring 4410mm long, 1850mm wide and 1600mm high, the Emzoom is pure-petrol, with its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 130kW/270Nm, paired with front-wheel drive and a seven-speed wet-type dual-clutch automatic.
The Emzoom has a 10.25-inch touchscreen inside, as well as an available panoramic sunroof. Under the skin, it uses a torsion beam rear suspension — though some markets score a superior multi-link independent rear.
From the Emzoom, it’s a step into the more premium Aion V midsize SUV — which, as the name suggests, hails from GAC’s dedicated EV sub-brand Aion.
The Aion V is 4605mm long, 1876mm wide, and 1686mm high, riding atop the AEP 3.0 platform. It is available with a range of CATL ‘Magazine’ batteries, said to prevent the spread of thermal runaway.
In China, 62kW, 64.5kWh and 75kWh lithium iron phosphate battery sizes are offered, along with a longer-range 90kWh nickel manganese cobalt pack, with the 64.5 and 75kWh LFP units expected to be offered in Australia with around 500km (WLTP) range.
Inside, a 14.6-inch rectangular touchscreen sits aside an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster. In some markets, a heat pump and cooled and heated refrigerator are available, with the Kia EV5 shaping up to be a key rival.
Finally, GAC will become another contender in the unexpectedly burgeoning luxury minivan space by way of the GAC M8 people-mover, known as the Trumpchi E9 in its home market.
Measuring a substantial 5212mm long, 1893mm wide and 1823mm high (on a long 3070mm wheelbase), the M8 packages dual powered sliding doors and second-row captain’s chairs with massage, heating, cooling and power ottomans.
The M8 will be the only hybrid in the range at launch, teaming a 140kW/330Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine to a 134kW/300Nm front electric motor and two-speed hybrid transmission.
System outputs are said to be around 278kW/630Nm, with a 25.5kWh traction battery providing around 85km electric range (WLTP estimate), with a total driving range of around 825km.
Competition to the M8 will be in the form of vehicles like the Kia Carnival, Lexus LM, Zeekr 009 and, most directly, the forthcoming Wey G8 plug-in hybrid from rival conglomerate GWM.
