Check out the striking new 7-seater coming to South Africa this year

The Chinese carmaker GAC Motor is set to begin the next stage of its expansion in South Africa, ushering in a new wave of vehicles.

The company recently announced that it is “poised for significant growth in South Africa in 2025 with a series of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing its presence and product offering.”

These initiatives will introduce at least two new cars – the Aion Y crossover and the M8 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) – before the end of the year.

The Aion Y is a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) exclusively while the M8 will be offered as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

“We’re entering a very exciting phase for GAC Motor in South Africa,” said Brian Smith, Marketing Director of GAC Motor South Africa.

“The developments planned for 2025 reflect our long-term commitment to the market and to offering South Africans more choice in advanced, reliable mobility.”

Furthermore, the automaker intends to continue expanding its national dealership network, which is currently sitting at 28 outlets around the country.

The company stated that it plans to add another 12 locations by the end of the year, creating a widespread network with a total of 40 GAC showrooms.

GAC Aion Y

GAC has remained tight-lipped about the Aion Y and M8’s local pricing and specifications, but we can take a look at the models sold overseas to get a sense of what is heading our way.

Starting with the Aion, this is a fully electric crossover that has been in production in China since 2021.

Initially limited to its home market, the company added a right-hand-drive assembly line in 2023, allowing it to be exported to new regions such as southeast Asia.

It is classified as a C-segment crossover, putting it in the same size bracket as cars like the VW T-Roc with a length of 4,410mm, width of 1,870mm, and height of 1,645mm.

Of course, the obvious distinction is its new-energy powertrain, which takes the form of a front-mounted electric motor.

The performance of the e-motor depends on the model selected, as the base units generate a total of 70kW, while the top-spec version produces up to 150kW.

Similarly, there are two different lithium-ion battery options comprising either a 37.9kW or 68.2kWh pack.

The 37.9kWh battery provides a driving range of 460km, while the larger cell can do up to 600km.

The crossover also comes with a Level 2 Driver Assistance suite, which includes functions like adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, and driver attention monitoring.

Additionally, the interior sees items such as a digital driver display, a wireless charger, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, and a floating 14.5-inch infotainment screen.

GAC M8

The second GAC model coming to South Africa is the M8 – an upmarket MPV that can seat up to seven people.

The vehicle entered its second generation in 2022, and is available with both a mild-hybrid (MHEV) and PHEV powerplant.

GAC officially stated that it will launch the PHEV in our market, but it seems unlikely that it wouldn’t also launch the more affordable MHEV version as well.

The core of both models is the same, utilizing a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that can produce 187kW and 380Nm on its own.

The MHEV version is paired with a continuously variable transmission, while the PHEV uses a two-speed dedicated hybrid transmission.

Importantly, the PHEV also features a large e-motor that increases the vehicle’s power output from 187kW to a respectable 274kW.

The e-motor is powered by a 25.57kWh battery, allowing for 120km of all-electric driving.

The design language of the M8’s interior is broadly similar to that of the Aion Y with standard fittings such as climate control and a wireless charging pad.

However, it has a much larger digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch touchscreen integrated into the dashboard.

Both cars will presumably be covered by GAC’s industry-leading aftersales support, comprising a 5-year/150,000km general warranty and a separate lifetime engine warranty for the first owner.

More information about the GAC M8 and Aion Y, including their local pricing and spec sheets, will be announced closer to their launch window later in 2025.