Chinese marque GAC locked in for Australia

CHINESE brand GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group) is locked in for arrival Down Under.

GoAuto understands the newcomer will arrive as part of a factory-led campaign with three models slated for arrival this October.

GAC Australia chief operating officer Jason Pecotic says the brand is on the lookout for dealerships willing to take-on the venture, with plans for a 30-site network offering up to eight petrol and new energy models by the end of the decade.

Mr Pecotic said the brand is aiming for a place on the Top 10 leader board by 2029, indicating that GAC has plans to sell more than 43,000 new vehicles annually (based on current FCAI sales figures).

The brand will launch with a petrol-powered mid-sized SUV from October, the Trumpchi GS3 to rival the likes of the GWM Haval H6 and MG HS. It will be joined by the similarly sized Trumpchi E9, a plug-in hybrid MPV, and an all-electric mid-sized SUV called the Aion V.

GAC said it will follow the initial wave of models with a hybridised SUV and an electric hatchback from 2026. These models will be joined by another hybrid SUV and a dual-cab ute in 2027, the latter taking to fight to the likes of the strong-selling BYD Shark 6.

While specifications and pricing for the trio of GAC offerings headed to Australia are yet to be confirmed, GoAuto understands the Trumpchi GS3 will combine a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to deliver 130kW/270Nm to the front wheels.

GAC claims a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 8.0 seconds for the model which is said to deliver a combined cycle fuel consumption figure of 6.2 litres per 100km (WLTC).

In other markets, the GAC Trumpchi GS3 offers a considerable list of standard equipment with highlights including digital instrumentation and infotainment screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera technology, and an extensive active and passive safety suite.

For the Trumpchi E9 seven-seater we find a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combination driving the front wheels via a two-speed Dedicated Hybrid Transmission.

The model offers a 25.6kWh ternary lithium battery to provide up to 106km (WLTC) of all-electric range, the vehicle’s total system output listed at a healthy 274kW/630Nm.

GAC says the Trumpchi E9 can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 8.8 seconds.

Feature highlights are understood to include a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen, a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen, and an optional 12.3-inch passenger screen, as well as requisite advanced driving assistance and safety inclusions.

Finally, for the Aion V we find a single permanent synchronous magnet outputting up to 165kW to the front wheels with power drawn from a CATL-sourced LFP battery pack with up to 90kWh capacity.

The model is said to offer a driving range of up to 750km (measured against the lenient CLTC standard), and is sold in markets including China, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.