GAC to Enter Japan EV Market in 2026, Aion UT and V to Lead Rollout

GAC will introduce Aion UT and Aion V in Japan, priced at JPY 3.3 million ($21,000) and JPY 5 million (32,000), respectively.

GAC plans to enter Japan’s electric-vehicle market in 2026, with an initial target of securing 200 orders for its Aion-branded models, according to a report by Nikkei Asia on December 10.

The automaker expects cumulative orders to reach 2,000 units by 2027. Sales will be handled through local distributor M Mobility.

GAC will introduce two models: the compact Aion UT and the SUV-positioned Aion V, priced at JPY 3.3 million ($21,000) and JPY 5 million (32,000), respectively. Both models will support Japan’s Chademo charging standard.

The decision to push into Japan comes at a time when Aion’s domestic sales have been under pressure for several months.

In November 2025, Aion delivered 38,326 vehicles, down 9.4 percent year-on-year. Its cumulative sales for the first 11 months declined 19.29 percent from a year earlier.

As competition intensifies in China’s EV market, more automakers are looking overseas for growth. GAC has been active in Southeast Asia for nearly two years and announced in July that it would enter the UK market in 2026 through a joint venture with a Saudi partner.

GAC is not the only Chinese automaker pursuing Japan. BYD has already built a basic retail network locally, selling 3,508 vehicles in the first 11 months of the year, up 64 percent year-on-year.

The company plans to launch the Racco, a model tailored for Japan’s K-Car segment, in 2026.

Geely intends to introduce its premium Zeekr brand to Japan, with its distributor beginning pre-orders in late October and targeting several hundred deliveries within a year.

Xiaomi has also signaled its EV ambitions in Japan, displaying the SU7 for the first time in the country through its Japanese subsidiary in September.

Japan’s new-energy vehicle market remains small, with 55,380 units sold from January to November, accounting for roughly 1.5 percent of total new-car sales.

But local brands are expanding their offerings: Toyota’s refreshed bZ4X topped the country’s monthly EV sales chart in November, while Nissan and Suzuki plan new model launches next year.

GAC Group reported November vehicle sales of 179,700 units, up 5.2 percent from the previous month. From January to November, overseas sales of GAC’s self-owned brands increased 39 percent year-on-year.