In November, GAC, an Australian-bound automotive giant from China, unveiled an electric hatchback with a big range, which we predicted was destined for international markets. That was in the form of the Aion UT.
Now, a pink Aion UT has been spotted by EV enthusiast Matthew L, testing on Australian roads, hinting at the potential of that car making it into our market in the near future.
The test vehicle was spotted parked on a street in Sydney with Victorian number plates on it. Its unique headlights, as well as the Aion badge on the bonnet, gave the vehicle away.
Unlike many other vehicles being evaluated for the local market, the Aion UT spotted did not have any camouflage wrapping around it, making it even easier to spot.
The car being tested is in the right-hand-drive configuration, and the steering can be seen through the windscreen. That, of course, is different to the left-hand-drive car which was launched in China late last year.
The Aion UT is competing with the very popular MG4 and was launched at the Guangzhou Auto Show in 2024.
This model in the Aion lineup features a 100 kW motor, which can hit speeds of up to 150 km/h. In Thailand, there is also a 150 kW motor model.
This will be paired with a 60 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack which will be able to deliver up to 500 km of NEDC range, so likely closer to 400 km on the commonly used WLTP cycle.
This model was also recently launched in Thailand as the Standard variant, featuring a smaller 50 kWh battery pack that offers approximately 420 km of NEDC range, which is likely equivalent to around 330 km of WLTP range.
The Aion UT features a sloping front design, along with a curved rear hatch, and measures just under 4.3 metres in length.
At that length, which is comparable to other similar hatchbacks and will likely compete with the MG4, GWM Ora and the BYD Dolphin.
On the inside, the UT interior features a minimal design and two screens. The larger infotainment screen has a 14.6-inch touch display, while a smaller 8.8-inch screen is also found behind the steering wheel.
Electric hatchback models are often welcomed by many, including local EV enthusiasts looking to see more smaller EVs on Australian roads.
Locally, in October 2024, GAC surprised many by attending a Mobility industry event in Melbourne where the brand highlighted its entry into the Australian market.
Previously the company hinted that it was planning to bring the Aion V electric SUV to Australia followed by multiple other models. The UT hatchback could very well be the one of a few FAC EV models heading our way.
The Aion UT has been delivered in China since Q1 2025, with international markets like Thailand seeing entry in Q2, which sets the path for what is to come in Australia in the coming months.
Although not much more is known about the pricing, Thailand pricing could provide a hint of what’s expected, as the Aion UT is currently priced at under $ 31,000 for the Premium variant.
Given the recent success of models like the MG4, if priced correctly, the Aion UT could very well be a very popular model if it heads to Australia. After all, not everyone is looking for a large SUV.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
