China's state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group has launched its Aion V and Aion UT electric vehicles in France and set out plans to offer French buyers 12 new models by 2030, as it moves to expand its European manufacturing footprint.
GAC France deputy chief executive Cedric Lacour said the company is actively examining ways to increase production capacity in Europe, with the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria, or other investors potentially involved. The company currently assembles the Aion V crossover-SUV and Aion UT hatchback in knock-down form at the Austrian facility, where components manufactured in China are shipped to Europe for final assembly.
That arrangement has been seen as a way of side-stepping existing European Union tariffs on Chinese vehicles. Xpeng, another Chinese manufacturer, also uses Magna's expertise for its G6 and G9 models. Lacour said GAC wants a lasting presence in Europe, which he said automatically requires production capacity.
GAC's European ambitions extend beyond manufacturing. The company operates a dedicated European research and development centre in Milan and already sells vehicles in the UK, Finland, Greece, Poland, Spain and Portugal. In the first half of this year, GAC reported export sales of 346,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 35.69 per cent, driven mainly by strong performances in the Americas and Southeast Asia. The brand also ranked second among Chinese electric vehicle brands in Greece.
In France, GAC plans to build a network of 200 dealerships within four years, with 50 planned for this year alone. The company is entering a market where rival BYD established its French footprint in 2024 and aims to have 250 outlets by the end of next year.
Asked whether GAC was late to the party, Lacour disputed the suggestion. He said the goal is to take the brand from launch to scaling up in just four years, adding that the company was entering the market at just the right time.
The French launch of the all-electric Aion UT and Aion V is the first step in a broader product push. By 2030, GAC intends to have 12 electric and hybrid offerings available to French customers, part of a wider effort to establish the brand across Europe.
GAC's move reflects a wider trend among Chinese automakers seeking to localise production in Europe to manage tariff exposure and build consumer trust. The company's decision to expand European capacity follows its existing assembly operations in Austria and its growing presence in several European markets.
With the French market launch under way and a dealership expansion planned, GAC is positioning itself for a long-term role in Europe's electric vehicle sector, combining local assembly, research and development, and a widening model range to compete with established and emerging rivals.