Australia's next budget electric car? BYD Dolphin-challenging 2025 GAC Aion UT revealed in full in China, as the new brand comes after MG4 and GWM Ora

GAC has revealed its small electric hatchback, the UT, ahead of its launch in China and the brand’s local arrival in Australia.

Positioned to challenge the BYD Dolphin, MG4, and GWM Ora for the title of Australia’s most affordable new electric car, the Aion UT will be offered in its home market in three battery sizes with one 100kW electric motor option and an impressive array of cabin features.

Measuring in at 4270mm long, 1850mm wide, and 1575mm high, the Aion UT is closer in size to the MG4 than the BYD Dolphin — more like a standard hatchback than a city car.

The three battery options, all LFP cells, measure in at 410km, 510km, or 610km of driving range according to the more lenient CLTC testing protocol used in China.

Inside, it scores a flat floor throughout, an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a massive 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen with CarPlay connectivity and online services. There’s also wireless charging in the floating centre console, with additional storage in the cut-out below.

Aion claims the UT has ‘class-leading’ rear legroom and the front seats can fold completely flat to make for a lounge arrangement inside. The UT boasts a 440-litre boot capacity.

Other features shown include front and rear auto emergency braking, as well as a thorough suite of airbags.

Details like charging speeds are yet to be revealed, and Chinese media is speculating the UT will be very price competitive to the BYD Dolphin.

The Aion UT is part of a new range of electric vehicles from GAC, which also includes the RT sedan and V small SUV. The Aion V will be the brand’s launch product in Australia, slated for Q2 of 2025, with the brand’s representatives telling CarsGuide that more Aion models will follow, before hybrid and combustion GAC models arrive at a later time.

The brand is targeting roughly 4000 units in 2025, which may mean keen prices if it wants to shake off rivals.

While the V will go into battle with the popular BYD Atto 3 as well as the just-arrived Chery Omoda E5 and the incoming MG ZS EV replacement, the UT will need to be keenly priced to target the likes of the BYD Dolphin (from $36,890), GWM Ora (from $35,990), and MG4 (from $37,990) all of which have been engaged in something of a price war in Australia over the course of 2024.

GAC itself joins a long list of new players in the Australian market starting next year. Aside from the now-established rivals, this newcomer will also need to face the likes of Xpeng, Skywell, Stellantis-backed Leapmotor, as well as mainstream giant Geely with its Zeekr and Smart subordinates.

What makes GAC stand apart is its close relationship with Toyota and Honda in the Chinese domestic market, which could make a curious hybrid alternative utilising technology and learnings from the two Japanese stalwarts.

Stay tuned for more details on GAC’s roll-out plan in Australia in early 2025.