GAC Aion UT Electric Supermini Launches in the UK at the British Motor Show From Almost $40k

The GAC Aion UT is a fresh electric supermini aiming to make a name for itself in the United Kingdom, and the Chinese company believes that participation at the British Motor Show in Farnborough, August 21-23, will swiftly ensure its success. At that price, we’re not so sure, though.

Let’s start with a different perspective. China’s once-behemoth automotive market has reached a ten-month long decline in July, with passenger sales down tremendously. The bubble is bursting at the seams, it appears, and Chinese carmakers are spearheading an all-out assault on international markets – during the same period, exports nearly doubled.

However, there’s a stark contrast between the subsidized prices at home in China and the MSRPs revealed on the Old Continent or in high-end places like the United Kingdom. Here’s an example: the new GAC Aion UT, which launched in March in the Land Down Under from AUD 31,990 (RRP) or about $22,453 at the moment’s exchange rates, is now way more expensive in the UK.

Over in the United Kingdom, the GAC Aion UT electric supermini will cost £28,950 when order books open in September 2026. That figure translates to about $39,468 at the current exchange rate! It’s almost double the starting quotation in Australia! The new model will celebrate its public debut at the British Motor Show in Farnborough from August 21 through 23 alongside the Aion V SUV, the brand’s first UK model that launched earlier this year.

GAC – or the Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. – is a Chinese automaker founded in 1997 and Aion was founded as a new brand in 2017 to play in the upper-mainstream electrified field through a joint venture between GAC and Jameel Motors, a company with the necessary international connections in many countries like the UK, UAE, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, Japan, China, Australia, Monaco, South Africa, Poland, Iraq and Italy.

Back to the Aion UT, GAC says it was designed in Europe at the company's styling house in Milan, and comes with premium features like a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a 14.6-inch central touch screen and 360° surround-view camera. There’s also a Premium Pack for another £1,200 with a panoramic glass roof, powered tailgate, ventilated driver’s seat and wireless phone charging, among others.

Inside the cabin, there are 24 practical storage areas and a large 440-liter trunk, while the GAC Aion UT at least trumps some of its rivals in terms of technical specifications. The company uses a 60 kWh battery pack, “offering a class-leading 268 miles of electric driving,” and the car also sprints to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.

“The Aion UT is a supermini with class-leading performance, quality, space and premium features, continuing Aion's work in helping customers see things differently,” said Jon Wakefield, Managing Director of Aion Auto UK. “Not only does the UT have an impressive list of standard kit, but it also includes equipment that isn’t available on competitor models. And with the AION Great 8 Promise included with every car, it exemplifies how we’re setting a new standard in the market,” he added.

Last but not least, the Aion UT for the UK will have “bespoke modifications to the springs, dampers and bump-stops, as well as a revised anti-roll bar” after an extensive tuning program led by the Aion UK team to adapt to the specific driving habits and preferences of UK motorists. The company also offers the Aion Great 8 Promise, featuring eight years of warranty, eight years of servicing, and eight years of roadside assistance and MOT.