GAC Group will enter the Japanese electric vehicle (EV) market next summer, becoming the latest Chinese automaker to target Japan as overseas expansion accelerates, according to a report from Nikkei. The state-owned manufacturer will introduce its Aion brand through distributor M Mobility Japan.
GAC plans to secure around 200 orders in 2026 and expand to 2,000 units in 2027, the report said. The company will initially offer two models — the compact Aion UT and the Aion V SUV — priced at 3.3 million yen ($21,190) and 5 million yen respectively. Both models support Japan’s CHAdeMO fast-charging standard. Initial sales will focus on corporate customers with business vehicle needs.
The move follows earlier market entries by Chinese OEMs such as BYD, which launched passenger vehicles in Japan in 2022 and has since released five models, including the upcoming BYD Racco mini K-Car scheduled for summer 2026. Zeekr has also begun early-stage market preparation, with its Zeekr X compact SUV spotted on Japanese roads earlier this year.
GAC’s domestic performance has softened in 2024. Total November sales fell 9.72% year-on-year to 198,992 units, while Toyota–GAC joint-venture brand Trumpchi dropped 42.04% to 25,739 units. The Aion brand recorded a 9.40% decline to 38,326 units in the same month. From January to November, GAC’s cumulative sales reached 1.53 million units, down 10.8% year-on-year.