Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong. Founded in 1954, it is currently the fifth largest automobile manufacturer in China, with 2.144 million sales in 2021.
| Website | gac.com.cn |
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The company produces and sells vehicles under its own branding, such as Trumpchi, Aion, Hyptec, and Hycan, as well as under foreign-branded joint ventures such as GAC Toyota and GAC Honda. It also produces electric vehicles under some of the previously listed brands. It manufactures buses under the GAC Bus brand. Other brand names associated with GAC include Everus for consumer vehicles and Hino for commercial vehicles.
In 2021, GAC was the fourth-largest Chinese plug-in electric vehicle manufacturer in the Chinese market, with 4% of market share. It sold 123,660 units of EVs in 2021 and over 20,000 units in March 2022, with plans to double EV production capacity to 400,000 a year by December 2022.
History
GAC Group was founded in 1954 and became a holding of Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group in 2005. It became a joint-stock company in 2009. In that year, the company acquired 29% of the Chinese sport-utility vehicle maker Changfeng Automobile, becoming its biggest shareholder. GAC purchased the remaining portion of Changfeng in 2011, completing its acquisition.
Previously listed under Denway Motors, GAC became publicly listed under its own name on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2010. In that year, shareholders of Denway Motors approved its privatization by GAC. Denway Motors was subsequently delisted on 25 August 2010 and replaced by Guangzhou Automobile Group (SEHK: 2238) on 30 August 2010 via a stock swap.
GAC launched the Trumpchi marque in December 2010, with its initial product based on the Alfa Romeo 166. By 2010, GAC was among China’s ten largest carmakers, ranking sixth with 724,200 vehicles sold. The company retained its position in 2011, producing 740,400 vehicles. In early 2012, GAC was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
In 2023, the company developed the first ammonia-powered engine for cars. On 17 November 2023, GAC Group announced the independent development of key technologies, including all-solid-state batteries, cobalt-free batteries, low-cobalt batteries, and sodium-ion batteries. The company aims to integrate all-solid-state batteries into automobiles by 2026.
On 2 November 2024, GAC Group moved its headquarters from the GAC Center in the Zhujiang New Town CBD to Panyu Auto City.
Brands
Trumpchi/GAC
Trumpchi is GAC Group’s mainstream consumer vehicle brand launched in December 2010. Outside China, the Trumpchi brand is marketed as GAC Motor.
Aion
Aion is the mainstream electric vehicle brand under GAC Aion, a subsidiary of GAC Group specializing in battery electric vehicles.
Hyptec
Hyptec is the premium electric vehicle brand under GAC Aion.
Former Brands
- Changfeng Motor (Leopaard): Acquired in 2011; originally an SUV maker.
- Gonow: Acquired in 2010; previously manufactured SUVs and pickup trucks.
Joint Venture Brands
- GAC Honda: A 50:50 joint venture with Honda, manufacturing Honda and Acura-branded vehicles in China.
- GAC Toyota: A 50:50 joint venture with Toyota, manufacturing Toyota-branded vehicles in China.
- GAC Hino: A joint venture with Hino producing commercial trucks.
Former Joint Ventures
- Guangzhou Peugeot: One of China’s first Sino-foreign joint ventures; operated between 1985 and 1997.
- GAC Fiat Chrysler: A joint venture with Fiat established in 2009; later became GAC Stellantis.
- GAC Mitsubishi: A joint venture with Mitsubishi; ceased operations in 2023.
- GAC BYD: A joint venture with BYD to produce electric buses.
Sales
GAC Group’s sales performance has grown consistently, with the company ranking among China’s top automakers.
International Operations
GAC Group has actively pursued international expansion, establishing research and development centers in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. The company has also entered markets in the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Sponsorships
GAC was the sponsor of the 2011 World Table Tennis Championships in Rotterdam and the title sponsor of the 2012 ITTF World Tour. In 2013, it sponsored the World Team Cup Table Tennis tournament held in Guangzhou.
