Chinese auto giant Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) is set to debut in Australia this October with a three-model line-up. Within three years, the company aims to offer at least eight competitively priced models in Australia and compete for a spot among the country’s top 10 automotive brands.
GAC’s entry into the Australian market comes after the cancellation of a previous agreement with independent distributor AGA Auto. The original plan was to launch GAC’s Aion EV brand alongside the GAC itself, but the strategy has been shelved. In its place, a new factory-backed entity, GAC International Australia, has been set up to oversee operations across Australia, New Zealand, and the wider Oceania region.
Under the new strategy, GAC will offer models from its three sub-brands—Aion, the mainstream Trumpchi, and the premium Hyptec—unified under the GAC badge for Australia and other global markets. The initial launch will feature the Aion V, a mid-size electric SUV, alongside the Trumpchi E9, a plug-in hybrid, and the petrol-powered Trumpchi GS3 Emzoom, a compact SUV. Hyptec, formerly known as Hyper and the maker of the SSR hypercar, will not be featured in the initial line-up, and the SSR itself will not be part of the Australian debut.
GAC has also declared that an electric hatchback and a hybrid or ICE-powered SUV will join the lineup in 2026. In 2027, another hybrid or ICE SUV is expected for the market, along with a ute. A concept version of the ute, called the Pickup 01, was unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show last April.
Among the anticipated future models is the Aion UT, a compact EV that was earlier slated for Australian release under previous distribution plans. Another potential addition is the Aion Y Plus, a small EV already being exported to several regional markets. Australia will receive the second-generation Aion V, which debuted in China in 2024.
GAC’s entry into the Australian market is part of a broader global export push. Facing fierce competition in China’s saturated automotive sector, the company, like many of its domestic rivals, is seeking to boost sales by expanding internationally.
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