GAC Aion New Energy Automobile

What GAC Aion New Energy Automobile does

GAC Aion New Energy Automobile (广汽埃安新能源汽车股份有限公司) is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer founded on July 28, 2017, headquartered in Guangzhou and majority-owned by state-owned GAC Group. The company operates a dual-brand strategy with the mass-market AION line and the Hyper (昊铂) premium sub-brand, producing battery-electric sedans, SUVs, and range-extended vehicles priced between 6.98 and 18.98 万元 (~$10,000–$26,000 USD). Core technology assets include proprietary Magazine Battery 2.0 (弹匣电池2.0) with industry-first gun-shot no-fire safety certification, Quark Electric Drive (夸克电驱) achieving 99% motor efficiency, Starling electronic architecture (星灵架构) with 50x computing power uplift, and 800V ultra-fast charging delivering 450 km of range in 10 minutes; solid-state batteries at 400Wh/kg are scheduled for mass production in 2026.

The company's business model spans vehicle sales (one-time license), battery-as-a-service subscriptions (~399 yuan/month on CATL Choco-SEB network), usage-based charging fees through GAC Energy (2,000+ stations, 24,313 piles), and fleet sales to Robotaxi operators. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer 25hours experience stores, a nationwide Chinese dealer network, an exclusive JD.com online channel for the AION UT Super, and an Aion mobile app for customization and service. Manufacturing runs across five global production bases (Guangzhou lighthouse factory, Changsha, Thailand, Indonesia) with a 53-second customized production cycle. As of September 2025, the user base exceeded 1.8 million, and GAC Aion operates in 20+ countries with the AION V launched in Europe at IAA Munich 2025.

Revenue mechanics are anchored in volume (1 million cumulative vehicles by December 2023, the fastest globally for a pure electric brand at 4 years 8 months) and diversified across hardware, recurring battery subscriptions, charging infrastructure, and software/OTA upgrades. Capital base is reinforced by an October 2022 Series A of 18.294 billion yuan at a 100+ billion yuan valuation — the largest private NEV financing in China — alongside partnerships with CATL (battery swap), WeRide and Didi (L4 autonomous driving), JD.com (e-commerce), and Huawei (AH8 project). The company is preparing for IPO while remaining the only NEV brand in SASAC's Science and Technology Reform Demonstration Action.

Name

GAC Aion New Energy Automobile

Legal name

广汽埃安新能源汽车股份有限公司

Website

https://gacne.com.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

GAC Aion is a Chinese state-owned electric vehicle manufacturer (founded 2017, subsidiary of GAC Group) producing BEVs and range-extended vehicles across mass-market and premium segments, leveraging proprietary battery, motor, and ADAS technology to serve 1.8 million-plus users across China, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

New Energy Vehicles (Electric Vehicles)

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB)

Keywords

• Electric vehicles
• New energy vehicles
• Battery electric vehicles
• Range-extended electric vehicles
• Smart connected vehicles

Headquarters

HQ city

Guangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NEV Vehicle Sales: Primary revenue stream from sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and range-extended vehicles across multiple price tiers (6.98-18.98万元 range), including models like AION S, AION Y Plus, AION V, AION LX Plus, AION RT, AION UT, AION N60, and AION i60.
2. Battery-as-a-Service / Subscription: For battery-swap vehicles like the AION RT Super, the battery is leased as a monthly subscription (approximately 399 yuan/month or $58 USD/month) rather than included in the vehicle purchase price, creating recurring revenue streams.
3. Charging Infrastructure Services: Revenue from GAC Energy's self-operated charging network spanning 2,000+ stations with 24,313 charging piles across China, including DC fast chargers. Revenue includes charging fees, cross-network access agreements, and planned 270,000 charging pile sales in 2026.
4. Aftermarket Services & Spare Parts: Revenue from vehicle maintenance, repairs, spare parts sales, and value-added services through the 'one-key maintenance' service system and dealer network.
5. Battery Recycling & Second-Life: Revenue from battery lifecycle management including recycling, re-use, and disposal services. GAC Aion maintains battery recycling service outlets and has engaged with Thailand's BOI on building domestic recycling capacity.
6. Software / OTA Upgrades: Revenue from software feature upgrades delivered via OTA (over-the-air) updates, providing continuous product improvements and potential paid feature unlocks.
7. Intelligent Manufacturing / OEM Services: GAC Aion operates as a manufacturing platform potentially serving other brands, with lamp factory status and 5 global production bases enabling production capacity sharing and contract manufacturing services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

GAC Aion is a Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer that designs, develops, and produces battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs) under the AION brand. The company sells its vehicles primarily to mass-market consumers and families across China, with growing international exports, and operates a proprietary charging and battery-swap ecosystem through the GAC Energy subsidiary.

Product overview

GAC Aion New Energy Automobile (广汽埃安) is a Chinese state-owned electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2017 and a strategic carrier of GAC Group for intelligent connected new energy vehicles. The company operates a dual-brand strategy with the AION mass-market brand and Hyper premium sub-brand, offering pure electric sedans (AION S, AION i60, AION RT, AION UT), SUVs/crossovers (AION N60, AION V, AION V Home, AION LX Plus, AION Y Plus), and extended-range vehicles. Core technologies include proprietary battery safety systems (弹匣电池), high-efficiency electric drive (夸克电驱), 800V ultra-fast charging, solid-state batteries (400Wh/kg, 2026), and advanced autonomous driving capabilities including L4 Robotaxi partnerships with Didi and WeRide. The product ecosystem extends to charging infrastructure (GAC Energy with 2,000+ stations), battery swap services (CATL Choco-SEB), OTA software updates, and the Aion mobile app for vehicle control and services. The company operates five global manufacturing facilities including lighthouse factories in Guangzhou and Thailand, with 180+ million users as of 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hyper (昊铂): 高端智能纯电品牌

Products and services

• AION N60 New energy SUV positioned in the flagship segment, offering extended range and intelligent driving features.
• AION i60 Range-extended electric SUV targeting family and long-distance buyers seeking more than BEV range.
• AION RT A-class pure-electric sedan targeting mass-market consumers with intelligent driving and 650 km range.
• AION RT Super Upgraded variant of the AION RT sedan with improved features and longer range.
• AION UT A0-class pure-electric hatchback targeting young urban consumers and city commuters.
• AION UT Super Higher-spec variant of AION UT hatchback with extended range and upgraded features.
• AION V Home AION V series SUV variant focused on family-oriented features and interior space.
• AION LX Plus Premium-class pure-electric SUV positioned as a flagship offering with advanced ADAS and long range.
• AION S Plus B-class pure-electric sedan aimed at mass-market families and fleet buyers, also used as platform for autonomous Robo-taxi pilots.
• AION S MAX Premium upgrade of the AION S sedan catering to family and ride-hailing buyers.
• AION Y Plus Compact pure-electric SUV targeting young and family buyers, both domestically and in export markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% weight reduction for battery protection plate (57% of steel mass) and 60.7% deformation reduction with structural adhesive
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability8 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• WeRide (文远知行)coreTechnology or Integration · 16 April 2026GAC Aion N60 SUV is the first mass-produced vehicle powered by WeRide's end-to-end ADAS solution (WRD 3.0) integrated on Qualcomm Snapdragon platform. This marks WeRide's first large-scale deployment in consumer vehicles, expanding from robotaxis into everyday commuting. The N60 features 4D millimeter-wave radar and LiDAR across all variants.
• CATL (宁德时代) / 时代电服coreTechnology or Integration · 8 April 2026GAC Aion launched AION RT Super featuring CATL's swappable battery technology compatible with the Choco Swap Network, enabling ~90-second battery exchange. Vehicle priced at 88,800 yuan without battery, with monthly subscription of ~399 yuan. CATL plans 3,000+ swap stations by 2026 and 30,000 long-term. Three-party cooperation agreement signed in May 2024 covering battery swap vehicle development, battery block production, and joint warranty services.
• Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)majorOthers · 10 November 2025GAC Aion (listed as AION Automobile) engaged with Thailand's Ministry of Industry regarding EV battery recycling investments to build domestic recycling capacity and strengthen the EV supply chain. Part of Thailand's goal to become a regional EV hub in Southeast Asia.
• JD.com / CATL (Low-Cost EV Partnership)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025CATL partnered with JD.com and GAC to develop low-cost electric vehicles, combining battery technology, e-commerce reach, and manufacturing capabilities.
• JD.com (京东)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025GAC Group, JD.com, and CATL jointly announced the 'National Good Car' — AION UT Super, combining GAC's lighthouse factory manufacturing, CATL's chocolate battery swap platform, and JD.com's exclusive online sales channel. Global quality standards with direct-to-consumer online sales model.
• Pony.ai (小马智行)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 December 2024GAC Aion signed Robotaxi strategic cooperation with Pony.ai to build commercially competitive L4 autonomous mass-produced vehicles. Based on GAC Aion global models and Pony.ai's 7th generation autonomous driving system. Target of at least 1,000 vehicles with positive unit economics, first deployment in Greater Bay Area with expansion to more regions and countries.
• TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2024GAC Aion signed strategic cooperation agreement with TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) for market promotion and brand building in Hong Kong, supporting global brand strategy and local market expansion.
• Didi Autonomous Driving (滴滴自动驾驶)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 May 2023GAC Aion and Didi signed深化合作协议 to launch 'AIDI计划' (AION Intelligence + DiDi Intelligence), establishing a joint venture company — 安滴科技. First autonomous production vehicle based on AEP3.0 platform and Starling architecture with L4 autonomous driving. Equipped with 10 LiDARs, 2000 TOPS computing, targeting 1 fault per 100 million hours of operation (1000x aviation safety). Planned 1,000+ Robotaxi vehicles for 2025 with positive unit economics, deployed in Didi's ride-hailing network for mixed autonomous/conventional dispatch.
• Ganfeng Lithium (赣锋锂业)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 August 2022Strategic cooperation agreement signed for upstream lithium resource development, mid-stream lithium salt processing, and battery comprehensive recycling. Joint efforts from most upstream battery materials through to recycling, creating mutual value and win-win outcomes.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Geely Auto Group: Major Chinese OEM with multiple EV brands (Geely Galaxy, Zeekr, Lynk & Co) competing across GAC Aion's price tiers. Galaxy E5 directly competes with AION N60 in sub-150,000 yuan segment.
• BYD: China's largest EV maker, competing directly with GAC Aion across BEV/PHEV sedans and SUVs in the same mass-market and premium price tiers (e.g., BYD Song PLUS EV vs AION N60). Most direct competitor in China's NEV market.
• XPeng: Chinese EV maker with strong ADAS/autonomous driving focus, competing in same smart-EV category. Targets similar tech-savvy consumers with intelligent driving features at mass-market prices.
• Li Auto: Chinese NEV maker specializing in range-extended electric vehicles (EREV), directly comparable to GAC Aion's AION i60 extended-range model. Similar premium family SUV positioning and battery technology investments.
• NIO: Chinese premium BEV maker with comparable battery-swap subscription model (BaaS), overlapping autonomous driving partnerships, and shared supplier ecosystem (CATL). Most direct competitor in battery swap business model.
• Tesla: Global EV leader and benchmark for BEV technology, autonomous driving, and direct-to-consumer sales. Competes with GAC Aion in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and other international markets where Tesla is dominant.
• Chery New Energy: Chinese state-affiliated automaker with expanding NEV portfolio and global manufacturing footprint. Competes with GAC Aion in domestic mass market and exports to Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• Hyundai Motor Group: Global incumbent with strong EV lineup (Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6/EV9) and E-GMP platform. Competes in Southeast Asia where GAC Aion is expanding, and in global markets with mature dealer/service networks.
• Volkswagen Group: Global incumbent transitioning to EVs (ID. series, Audi e-tron). Competes in Europe where GAC Aion is launching AION V, and broader portfolio creates cross-tier competitive pressure including via PPE platform BEVs.

Others

• CATL: World's largest EV battery maker and key GAC Aion supplier/partner (Choco-SEB battery swap network, AION RT Super, joint 3-party JV with JD.com). Strategic technology partner rather than direct competitor, but increasingly vertically integrated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xweibo.com/gacne

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GAC Aion New Energy Automobile