About

AION – NEW TO THE UK BUT NOT A START-UP
AION is one of the top selling BEV brands in China with over 300,000 cars sold in 2025. It benefits from over 20 years of GAC joint ventures in development and manufacturing with Honda and Toyota, helping it establish a culture of absolute quality and earning nine consecutive 1st place JD Power Quality rankings in China.

The UK-spec AION V is produced at GAC’s advanced manufacturing site in Guangzhou, which also builds models for GAC’s performance brand, Hyptec, including the SSR electric supercar.

AION products are already on the roads in Portugal, Poland, Finland and Greece, with further European roll-out through to 2028. Overall, the full Group product portfolio in Europe will include six model lines by 2028 and eight by 2030. AION aims to sell 200,000 units in Europe by 2030, representing 40% of GAC’s total overseas sales. All will be electrified powertrains.

Jon Wakefield, Managing Director AION Auto UK, said: “The UK doesn’t necessarily need a new car brand, but we think it deserves a better one. One with better products, a better customer experience, better value, and a better approach to doing business.

“Affordable cars do not have to compromise on quality, and we’re here to challenge the perception that those two things are mutually exclusive. The way AION is set up means that we can leverage the global expertise of our parent company, but we also have the licence to challenge the status quo; just because things have always been done a certain way doesn’t mean they need to carry on that way.

“We are here to do things differently, and that starts with the launch of AION V. From the product itself to the retailer relationships, our exceptional AION Great 8 customer proposition, and simple but meaningful actions like being able to pick up the phone and speak to real people, the change starts here.

“AION is driving the new standard, and everything we do must meet or exceed that goal: that’s the bar we’ve set ourselves.”

The AION V will be the first of a family of products coming to the UK. The AION UT, a B-segment BEV hatchback, will follow later in 2026, followed by a large five-seat SUV PHEV, will come in 2027.

While the first two AION models in the UK will be BEVs, future models in the line-up will introduce other powertrain solutions: hybrid, PHEV and range extender tech is all under consideration.

AION Auto UK is a joint venture between GAC Group and Jameel Motors, an independent international automotive distributor and mobility solutions provider. These two highly experienced shareholders bring the resources, commitment and expertise to succeed in building a sustainable, growing business in the UK.

AION benefits from GAC’s extensive technical resources, which see over $6.5bn invested in R&D each year. The Group also has long-standing technical and manufacturing partnerships with established global suppliers and car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda, establishing a culture of absolute quality that has helped it win nine consecutive first place JD Power Quality rankings in China.

AION Auto UK has approached its launch with a commitment to do things differently. As a ‘clean-sheet’ business with no legacy processes and systems, the business has been designed and built for long-term, sustainable growth.

The business is being led by a local senior management team that’s highly respected, hugely experienced and well-connected across the UK industry.