Long-awaited affordable EV arrives

Another Chinese brand’s entry into Australia is imminent.

GAC - short for Guangzhou Automobile Company - has released specifications for its Aion V all-electric SUV that will hit the Australia market in November.

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In China it has established partnerships with big manufacturers such as Toyota and Honda. GAC technology is the basis for several Toyota electric vehicles in China.

GAC is yet to specify pricing for its first entry into the Australian market, but have now provided extensive details for the car.  

The Aion V is a five-seater mid-size SUV and will be available in two variants: Premium and Luxury. 

It has a single front-mounted electric motor that delivers 150kW and 210Nm. Its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) 75.26 kWh battery has a WLTP range of 510km and can fast charge from 10-80 per cent in 24 minutes. 

The car has an extensive list of standard features and specs across both variants, such as 19-inch alloy wheels, heated, ventilated and massage seats and a panoramic sunroof, while the synthetic leather steering wheel is also heated. The cabin houses a 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen.

One of the distinguishing features of the top-spec Premium variant is a 6.6L fridge in the central armrest, which can be both heated and cooled. The Premium receives genuine leather seats as well. 

The Aion V will launch in Australia in late November 2025 when pricing information will be made available.

It will face plenty of all-electric competition, including BYD’s Sealion 7, which has been popular in Australia and also pushed its way into the ICE share of the SUV market. 

Other rivals will be the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV5 and Geely EX5 which have all made in-roads in the mid-size electric SUV space.  

GAC will continue to launch vehicles in Australia with its M8 plug-in hybrid people mover next up to provide competition for the Kia Carnival.

It will then launch a small petrol-powered SUV in the Emzoom, which will challenge the MG ZS, Chery Tiggo 4 and Haval Jolion to round out the initial range.