In October, GAC, a Chinese automotive giant, surprised many by announcing its entry into the Australian market, starting with its first global electric model, the Aion V.
Now, the brand has launched this very mode that competes with the BYD Atto 3 in the Thailand market with a starting price equivalent to less than $A45,000.
At the Thailand International Expo 2024, the Aion V starred at the Aion stand, featuring its 602 Luxury variant.
The 602 refers to the NEDC range in km, which this model will feature in the Thailand market. That’s likely to be closer to the 500 km of WLTP range.
On the drivetrain front, the Aion V is available in Thailand with a single motor options, featuring 165 kW of power and 240 Nm of torque.
Acceleration times of 0-100 km/h stand at 7.9 seconds which is reasonable for a 4.6 metre SUV.
Powering this motor is a 75.2 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack which can be fast charged at speeds of up to 180 kW. With this speed, the Aion V can be fast charged from 30-80% in 16 minutes.
Rated consumption is 14.1 kWh/100 km but that’s likely to be higher on the WLTP cycle, more suited to Australian driving conditions.
Inside the car, a spacious interior is on offer with a large landscape screen for infotainment as well as a smaller driver information screen behind the steering wheel.
On colours, 6 different options will be available in Thailand, including the Orange which appears to be the hero colour seen in most of the cars marketing.
GAC is an acronym for Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, and it is one of the largest automakers in China. It also has a global presence in various markets.
In 2023, the company produced over 2.5 million vehicles, making it a top-5 car maker in its home market of China.
Based on what we saw in Melbourne in October and this launch in Thailand, the company is treating right-hand-drive markets like Thailand and Australia as its key markets for its international expansion.
Deliveries of the Aion V are expected to begin in Thailand in the coming months, followed by an Australian launch in the first half of 2025.
The Aion V and the recently announced Aion UT hatchback which starts at under $A22,000 while delivers over 500 km in range will position the newly launched brand one to watch out for in 2025.
Thailand Motor Show 2024 walkaround video by Tsuitreview: GAC Aion V
RizĀ is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.