GAC Motor’s Aion EV sub-brand is now in PH with two models

There is no stopping the entry of new automotive brands from China here in the Philippines, the latest of which is Aion. 

Under the distributorship of Dangdang New Energy Auto Service Ltd. Corporation, Aion is the all-electric vehicle subsidiary of GAC Motor which is why their vehicles wear the popular Chinese automaker’s logo.

The brand’s entry is marked by the introduction of two models—the Y Plus crossover and ES midsize sedan (yes, just like a certain Japanese luxury sedan), and the opening of their flagship dealership in Makati City, located at 2287 Chino Roces Avenue Extension.

If you’ve been to China, the Aion Y Plus should be familiar as it is very popular over there. This crossover wears MPV-like styling and comes in two variants for the Philippine market—Elite and Premium.

It wears a futuristic exterior design with Angel Wing headlights, a rear lightbar, and also gets a panoramic sunroof and flushed pop-out door handles. The Elite gets 17-inch alloy wheels while the Premium gets 18s and a power tailgate.

The interior is equally futuristic with a standard floating-style 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity and matched to a six-speaker audio system, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

Powering both variants is a single electric motor and a 63.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, that produces 204 horsepower and 220 Nm of torque. It can drive up to 490 kilometers on a single charge and can be topped-up via Type 2 charging.

As for safety, the Aion Y Plus Premium gets the addition of advanced driver-assistance systems. 

Pricing for the Aion Y Plus is as follows:

• Aion Y Plus Elite – Php 1,498,000
• Aion Y Plus Premium – Php 1,698,000

The brand’s second offering is the ES which is a midsize sedan and wears styling that is typical of its parent company, GAC Motor. 

This one is quite affordable at Php 1,358,000 with standard features such as LED exterior lighting, 17-inch alloy wheels, leatherette upholstery, urethane steering wheel, analog instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch driver’s display, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Powering the Aion ES is also a single electric motor, this time paired with a 55.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, producing 136 horsepower and 225 Nm of torque. It can drive up to 442 kilometers on a single charge and like the Y Plus, can be topped-up via Type 2 charging.

Buyers of either the Aion Y Plus or Aion ES will be able to take advantage of an eight-year or 160,000 kilometer vehicle warranty, and an eight-year or 200,000 kilometer warranty for their batteries.

Going back to their first dealership in the country, Aion Makati, it is located on a 1,420 sqm property and features a six-car showroom, and a service area and lounge for customers. It also features four EV charging stations, with two which are fast-chargers.

The brand is also set to open additional dealerships in Bacolod City, Cagayan De Oro City, and Davao City.

With so many Chinese brands entering the Philippine market left and right, the challenge for Aion is to stand-out and gain some traction amidst lots of competition. Do you think their lineup is compelling enough?