The GAC Aion UT hatchback designed for urban commutes revealed in official images as a threat to the Volkswagen ID.3 in China. It will be revealed at the Guangzhou Auto Show on November 15.
Aion is an electric car branch under the GAC Group. As NEVs became more demanding than ICE cars in China, Aion is the company’s current bestselling brand. Its model line comprises six vehicles. This year, GAC finally started treating Aion as a global brand. Its first global model was the second-gen Aion V. The second car for global markets is the Aion RT sedan. The third model is the Aion UT hatchback revealed in official images.
More about Aion UT
The Aion UT hatchback was previously known by its codename AY2. It applied for the sales license in November. The Aion UT adopts the regular look of an electric hatchback designed for urban mobility. It has a long wheelbase with short overhangs, flush door handles, a smooth outline, and oval-shaped headlights. Its exterior styling resembles those of such cars as Geely Geome Xingyuan and BYD Dolphin.
The Aion UT has a charging port in the front right fender. Its other features include LED fog lights in the front bumper, blackened pillars, and separated C-shaped LED taillight units. A large air intake and a sizeable roof spoiler add a sprinkle of sportiness to this small EV.
Interior of the Aion UT was revealed in comic-book-styled drawings. It has a large floating touchscreen and a two-spoke steering wheel with a gear shifter behind it. The car’s center tunnel adopts two wireless charging pads and cup holders. The Aion UT’s LCD instrument panel in the official drawing shows a range number of 600 km.
Aion UT specs
The Aion UT is a compact car with dimensions of 4270/1850/1575 mm and a wheelbase of 2750 mm. Its curb weight lies in the 1510 – 1540 kg range. It rides on 16 or 17-inch wheels. The Aion UT has a single permanent magnet synchronous e-motor with a peak power of 100 kW (134 hp). It adopts LFP batteries with a range of around 600 km. The car’s top speed reaches 150 km/h.
The Aion UT will enter the Chinese market for a price under 100,000 yuan (13,800 USD). For clarity, the Volkswagen ID.3 costs 129,900 yuan (17,950 USD). And the BYD Dolphin starts at 99,800 yuan (13,800 USD).
It’s time for Volkswagen to step up their game. The previous “facelift” for the ID3 is just not enough to compete. They only fixed what was wrong from the first edition but did not change the exterior, as they have done in Europe. Even though those exterior changes were minor, it would have signaled that you are getting a “new” car. Now the ID3 feels antique.
I assume this kind of laziness means that the new generation of VW ID vehicles is around the corner. They have announced it but after that I have not seen any other news about it.
It’s now or never. VW needs fresh models. Otherwise you can say goodbye to VW in China.
But isn’t it better for VW just to pack up and leave? Why fighting for a thinning profit margin.
Do any of these random carmakers even make money? Deosnt seem to be any point to investing in China anymore. Also they just steal your design and your technology. Just call it quits and keep them out of western markets with high tariffs.
GAC AION by GAC group already makes profits, it’s among one of the largest state owned car companies in china. Plus non of the western automaker can even think of competing with Chinese EV companies. Do you think they even need western tech when Chinese automakers dominate EV manufacturing from supply chains, raw materials, battery manufacturing, autonomous driving software development to EV components manufacturing? They account for more than half of EV patents applied worldwide and more than 60% EVs worldwide are made in china. It’s the western automakers that are rebranding Chinese EVs as their own products, which shows how far behind they are. The Chinese market is larger than the US and EU combined, Chinese companies don’t even need to care about western tariffs. China makes and sell more than 1 million EVs per month and more than 25 million cars annually.
That’s a simple way of looking at it.
Then why do they do nothing but copy german cars? Just look at the Xiaomi, a blatant Porsche steal. Not that it has the same quality. China is a death trap for any company dumb enough to invest there. “Western companies are rebanding chinese EVs” lol is that what they tell you in China?
It’s a FACT that Chinese companies steal whatever they can get a hand on. It’s part of their culture, it’s part of their mindset. Whoever wants to deny this, is a fool.
That’s the reason why you cannot even find toilet paper in most public toilets in China, even in luxury malls. Because people steal it!
I am not saying, China has never ever innovated anything BUT it all started with copying first.
Then leave China. Why bother staying there. No point really
Hello, editor is here. Please keep your conversation polite without insulting other readers or nations. Otherwise, I will be forced to delete your comments.
And talking about stealing. Every major cities in Europe and North America are coping really hard with looting and shoplifting.
I really think VW, Merc and BMW should pull out of China at once. Please leave China market asap
Can you answer which German car brand was the earliest to establish manufacturing in China and now has 33 plants there? Which company actually started the car industry in China and provided mobility to the Chinese people?
Maybe it’s time for a reality check for you.
As I said before what’s the point of staying for thinning profit margin and Chinese people are increasingly oriented towards domestic brands for almost everything. The only foreign name still doing well in China is Apple. Time has changed. VW and other German brands won’t be as cordially embraced as they were 30 years ago. So please pack up and leave.
its quite simple.
western euros need ‘souls’ to feed their lavish lifestyle.
europe is stagnating while the americans are harvesting whats left.
some posters here are lashing out as they are panicking, it’s coping.
trump winning is bad for china but much much worse for europe.
maybe ford will ‘rescue’ vw and boeing can ‘rescue’ airbus.
French cars left China
German cars should do the same
Win-win for both sides
How about you become a shareholder of VW, BMW and Mercedes, so your voice can actually be heard during a shareholders meeting and have a possible impact?
Maybe you can even be so kind and offer them to carry their luggage over the border?
These are the cars I want to see instead of suvs. If it has recessed door handles, heat pump as standard and V2L, it is already ahead of VW group (who I think has not been innovating fast enough). I’d be interested to know the battery size and if it will have longer range than the ID3 equivalent. Things like big screens should not be the focus, instead efficiency!