GAC has announced it’s bringing a cheaper version of its ultra-affordable AION UT electric hatch to Australia, with the new entry-level model coming with a smaller battery – and a smaller price tag.

The upcoming AION UT will feature a 44kWh battery pack with a claimed 320km of WLTP range. Due to arrive in Aussie showrooms by the end of the year, it’s positioned to undercut the current model’s impressive $31,990 driveaway cost. 

White SUV photographed from the rear side on a road with a cloudy sky and open landscape behind it.
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The UTs currently on sale down under run a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate battery good for up to 430km of WLTP range as it sends juice to a 150kW, 210Nm electric motor. GAC quotes energy consumption for those models at 16.4kWh/100km. However, further details about the short-range AION UT’s specs and pricing are staying under wraps for the minute.

GAC undercut the Toyota Corolla when it first announced pricing and specs for the current AION UT in March this year, with the higher-specification Luxury model starting from $35,990 before on-roads. To make the deal even sweeter, customers who pre-ordered at the time received a free 10A portable charger and 22kW wall charger to install at home.

The front-wheel drive AION UT entered the market with the aim of taking sales away from the GWM Ora, MG 4, Geely X2 and BYD Dolphin. This new development has ramped up those efforts and reinforced the brand’s commitment to designing models with affordability front of mind.

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“GAC is committed to delivering products that are tailored to the needs of Australian consumers, and in this instance, the call for more accessible entry-level EVs was particularly strong,” the manufacturer’s Australian CEO Kevin Shu said.

“With its innovative powertrain technologies, distinctive European-influenced design, and a generously spacious interior that defies its compact exterior footprint, I am confident the short-range AION UT will be a leading option not just for those considering their first EV, but also those looking for their first car.”