- GAC launches with portfolio of three models for New Zealand.
- One combustion-engine, one plug-in hybrid, one full-electric.
- Launch $2000 discount offer across the range until end of March.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown gave a short, slightly staccato and entertainingry dry speech in front of a crowd of dignitaries at the official New Zealand launch of Chinese brand GAC (Guangzhou Automobile Group) on November 15.
"Auckland Council has a 35-year history of sister city arrangements with Gaungzhou, and I have had my own businesses there. So anything from Guangzhou is welcome here.
"I own an electric car, a BYD Seal. On my last visit to China I counted more than 28 different EV brands. They're all good. So good luck, GAC! In five years time there will probably only be Chinese vehicles. It turns out my Volvo is actually a Geely, like the Council's electric buses."
A wish from Mayor Brown for GAC to do well in NZ... and then exit stage left.
As he pointed out, the Chinese "new energy" vehicle market is crowded - even in NZ, with rival brands like BYD, BAIC, Denza, Dongfeng, Geely, GWM, Leapmotor, MG, XPeng, Zeekr and more contesting similar spaces.
But GAC (say it as an initialisation, G... A... C, rather than an acronym) is also now determined to make an impression among Kiwi buyers. As with so many Chinese brands you might not previously have heard of, it's a lot bigger than you might think. The state-owned company is the 5th-largest carmaker in China and produces more than 2 million vehicles per year. It has 80,000 employess, including 6000 engineers.
GAC group brands include Aion, Hycan, Hyptec and Trumpchi, and it's the largest global automotive partner of both Toyota and Honda. And now it's here.
The GAC launch function was held at the brand's largest sales and service centre, at 11 Reg Savory Place, East Tamaki, Auckland. It's one of 5 dealerships now up and running, including another in Auckland on the North Shore, plus Hamilton, Tauranga, and Christchurch.
GAC's new models for NZ
While the focus is very much on plug-in vehicles, GAC's entry-level model is powered by a conventional combustion engine. The intruigingly named Emzoom is called an SUV by GAC, but it's more of a slightly elevated hatchback.
It has a 125kW/270Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Equipment includes 18-inch wheels, power tailgate, 14.6-inch touch screen and 360-degree camera. The single specification sells for $31,990.
GAC's most mainstream new model is the Aion V mid-sized SUV ("Aion" serves as the company's EV brand in China). It's BEV-only and has a 75kWh battery that's good for 510km (WLTP) and a single electric motor that makes 150kW/210Nm.
Standard equipment for the $49,990 Aion V Premium includes panoramic roof, 14.6-inch touch screen, power tailgate, ambient lighting and 360-degree camera. There's also a more upmarket version called Aion V Luxury, which adds equipment including genuine leather upholstery, second-row table and in-car refrigerator, for $51,990.
The big fella of the brand for NZ is the M8 people-mover, which the company proclaims is our market's first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) MPV. It's powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine matched to a 25.kWh battery and electric motor, to make a combined 274kW/630Nm.
The standard M8 is $85,990, but there's also a Luxury version for $89,990 that adds more elaborate seating and a "fragrance system", among other features.
GAC is running a launch offer until the end of March, discounting $2000 off retail prices across all three models.