GAC Group Partners with Jameel Motors to Distribute Vehicles in the UK

On July 16, GAC Group announced a partnership with Jameel Motors, a Saudi Arabian distributor, to introduce its vehicles in the UK, Europe's second-largest automotive market. This marks GAC Group as the fourth Chinese automaker to launch a new brand in the UK this month. Under the plan, GAC Group will initially introduce two Aion brand electric vehicle models—the AION V SUV and the AION UT hatchback in the UK, with the first batch expected to be delivered to British consumers in the first quarter of 2026. Wei Haigang, General Manager of GAC International, stated that through strategic cooperation with Jameel Motors, GAC Group aims to bring electric models to the UK market, facilitating a transition to cleaner and more sustainable mobility in the country. When asked about introducing other brands like Trumpchi, HYCAN, or Haobo, GAC Group emphasized its focus on promoting the Aion brand in the UK at this stage. Notably, GAC Group has also announced plans to start sales operations in other European countries such as Portugal and Poland, and successfully entered the Brazilian market in May. Although GAC Group's global sales are projected to decrease by 20% year-on-year to 2 million units in 2024, primarily due to declining sales from its joint ventures with Honda and Toyota in China, overseas sales have surged by 67% year-on-year, reaching 127,000 units, demonstrating strong international growth momentum. The UK is the second-largest electric vehicle market in Europe, after Germany. Data shows that in June, one out of every four cars sold in the UK was an electric vehicle. Unlike the EU, the UK has not imposed tariffs on electric vehicles from China. Several Chinese automakers, including BYD, have already commenced operations in the UK market. Earlier this month, Geely launched its EX5 electric SUV in the UK. Changan is set to unveil its Deep Blue S07 electric SUV in the UK, and Chery has announced plans to introduce Chery brand vehicles in the coming weeks, building on its existing sales of Omoda and Jaecoo models. Additionally, the UK government announced this week a £650 million ($871 million) investment in electric vehicle subsidies, offering up to £3,750 in subsidies for consumers purchasing vehicles priced under £37,000, a move that may attract more brands into the UK market.