Just months after GAC launched with three models in Australia, the Chinese brand has confirmed it will add another model in the form of a small electric hatchback by mid-2026.
The 2026 GAC Aion UT will be launched locally in the second quarter of this year (April-June), joining the already launched mid-size electric SUV Aion V, small gasoline SUV Emzoom and plug-in hybrid People M8.
Pricing and full specifications have yet to be confirmed, although GAC Australia president Kevin Shu says the Aion UT is another piece in the brand’s rapidly evolving local puzzle.
“Our strategy of ‘“In Australia, for Australia”“GAC will bring more than 10 models to the Australian market over the next five years,” he said in a media statement.
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“The GAC Aion UT demonstrates the strength of GAC’s product portfolio by combining elegant design with clever technology that truly enriches the everyday lives of its owners.
“I have no doubt this model will be very popular with Australians looking for a smart, city-focused vehicle to navigate the country’s iconic cityscapes. We look forward to continuing to grow with our customers here in Australia.”
Designed at GAC’s Milan design center, the Aion UT features a “sleek fastback design” characterized by a two-tone “floating roof.” It’s confirmed to have a wheelbase of 2750mm, meaning it’s about the same size as the tailgate of a Toyota Corolla.
Pixel elements can be seen on the taillights and fog lamps, and GAC claims that the hatch “features the world’s first eyebrow-style headlight design.”
Although no local interior images have been provided, it’s no surprise that the overseas models come with a large central touchscreen, smaller instrument display and minimal buttons, consistent with other GACs already available in Australia.
Overseas, the Aion UT is also available with a range of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, including small 34.8kWh and 44kWh options. However, it is likely that Australian models will be fitted with one or both of the 50kWh and 60kWh units available for the export market – the largest capacity options available.
The hatch cover has a stated NEDC range of up to 500km and a maximum output of 150kW, depending on specification. The Aion UT is mechanically related to the Aion V and shares its platform with the midsize SUV.
Importantly, this relationship means that the Aion UT has some features that meet Toyota’s high standards, as the Aion V is also sold by Toyota in China as the bZ3X. The electric SUVs were jointly developed by the Chinese and Japanese giants.
GAC Group, one of China’s largest vehicle manufacturers, has been operating joint venture projects with Toyota and Honda since 2004 and 1998, respectively.
This shared knowledge has supported the development of GAC vehicles, including models that have made their way to Australia and have so far received relatively positive feedback from local media.
As pricing is confirmed closer to the Aion UT’s local launch, we can look to China to get an idea of where it will be positioned. There, the 44 kWh battery option starts at 83,800 yuan, or about $18,000 in Australian dollars.
A comparable Australian-spec Aion V now costs 128,800 yuan, or about $27,600.
This suggests that the Aion UT, with a base price in the low to mid-$30,000 range, could slot in below the Aion V (priced from $42,590 before release) and therefore poses a real threat to other Chinese electric hatches such as the BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora and MG 4.
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