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GAC future: We are planning long-term!

After the interview was before the interview: In Paris, GAC explained at a press conference why they are coming to Europe despite tariffs and that they are fundamentally planning for the long term.

The Era Concept already hints at a future GAC model. | Photo: GAC
The Era Concept already hints at a future GAC model. | Photo: GAC
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Long-term planning seems more difficult than ever these days: because buying behavior and politics are currently changing very quickly. However, this does not stop GAC from planning long-term. This was stated by Wayne Wei, General Manager of the Chinese car manufacturer, at the press conference in Paris.

GAC has always planned for the long term: The brand once emerged from a partnership with Honda and Toyota. And before venturing into their own models, they viewed the licensed production of the manufacturers as a "learning opportunity": according to designer Zhang Fan, Japanese quality also meant that GAC consistently achieved top positioning among Chinese brands in terms of customer satisfaction.

Not only do they want to learn, but they also want to progress themselves and are therefore always looking for win-win partnerships and trying to avoid "lazy compromises" as much as possible. This is why they are seeking "reliable and trustworthy" partners for the expansion into Europe, as Wei explains. One way or another, they aim to be present throughout Europe with all-electric and plug-in hybrids by 2028 and thus promote green mobility. In perspective, they want to become a "Mobility Service Provider" and intend to "seamlessly integrate into European culture" and create their own "GAC ecosystem" in Europe.

Big goals, lofty words. And we want to know what the service network looks like, with spare parts? By 2025, GAC aims to have a central warehouse and a functioning warranty and guarantee system. Incidentally, they plan to start with the GAC Aion V, which we were already able to drive. Interestingly: like Xpeng, they want to sell vehicles in the "conventional way" through a classic dealer network.

 

Looking ahead, they want to score with affordable quality and innovative technology, something we have heard many times before. What does this look like more concretely? By producing their own batteries, which (ideally) can draw 100 to 150 kilometers of range in five minutes.

This is complemented by active safety systems with Lidar and sensors, and they are open to collaborations here, which also applies to partnerships in Europe. Here, the next question inevitably arises: Is this also to avoid punitive tariffs?

Here, Wie makes it clear that they have a long-term vision and plan, potentially including assembly in Europe, just as they once began with CKD kits from Japan. And Zhang Fan also explained to us that they want to win customers "through their own performance," completely independent of political circumstances. And with two lines: fully electric models and plug-in hybrids.

And what models can be expected? Here, too, Fan hints that a hatchback in the Golf class might follow the Aion V, which is not quite as price-sensitive as small cars. He left open which of the two platforms it will be based on, the purely electric Aion Electric Platform 3.0, or the simpler Global Platform Modular Architecture for plug-in hybrids.

What does that mean?

GAC is planning a comprehensive market entry in Europe, interestingly, designers and executives are already very specific here. How concretely the words will be followed by actions, we will see from 2025. Central warehouse and market entry are planned from early 2025 in the Netherlands. 

Translated automatically from German.
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