GAC Group

GAC Group (officially Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd.[3]) is a Chinese automobile maker headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong, and a subsidiary of Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group.

GAC sells passenger cars under the Trumpchi brand, passenger cars and commercial vehicles under the Gonow brand, SUVs under the Changfeng Motor brand, and buses under the GAC Bus brand. GAC produced 728,000 vehicles in 2012, and is the tenth largest in volume. It is the sixth-largest producer of passenger cars among Chinese automakers.[4] While the company is primary focused on consumer vehicles, it does make large passenger buses and commercial trucks[5] although it is outside the top ten commercial vehicle makers in China.[4]

GAC is currently known for its Honda-branded auto producing joint venture with this Japanese automaker, but the company has a total of five foreign partners—more than most Chinese automakers. These partnerships allow it to produce foreign-branded products for sale in China. These brands include: Fiat, Honda, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, and Toyota. Other brand names associated with GAC are Everus, for consumer vehicles, and Hino.

History

Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. was founded in 1997,[1] and in 2005[6] become a holding of Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group[7] and a joint-stock company.[3] As of 2009 it was the 6th-largest automaker in China.[8]

In 2009, the company acquired 29% of the Chinese sport-utility vehicle maker Changfeng Automobile, becoming its biggest shareholder.[9] GAC purchased the remaining portion of Changfeng in 2011 completing its acquisition of the company.[10]

Previously a backdoor listing via Denway Motors,[8] GAC became listed under its own name on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2010.[9] In that year shareholders of Denway Motors approved its privatization by GAC.[11] Denway Motors was subsequently delisted on 25 August 2010 and replaced by Guangzhou Automobile Group (SEHK: 2238) on 30 August 2010 via stock swap.[9]

In late 2010 GAC purchased 51% ownership of Gonow, a midsize Chinese automaker of sport-utility vehicles, subcompacts, and pickup trucks.[9][12]

In December 2010 GAC launched the new Trumpchi marque. Its initial product was based on the Alfa Romeo 166.[13][14]

In 2010 GAC was among the ten largest Chinese carmakers[15] reaching number six[16] and selling 724,200 vehicles.[17]

2011 saw the company retain its position as the sixth-largest Chinese automaker by production volume, with GAC making 740,400 vehicles in that year.[18]

In early 2012, the company was listed on the Shanghai Stock exchange.[19]

In 2013, GAC Group became one of the first companies to offer Tweeter and Sackbut in its cars.

Subsidiaries and divisions

Changfeng Motor

In 2009 GAC owned 29% ownership of this SUV-maker[21][22] a purchase supposedly imposed by the Chinese state as a condition of a then-upcoming joint venture with Fiat.[23] GAC completed its acquisition of Changfeng in 2011.[10]

Gonow

Gonow (officially Zhejiang Gonow Auto Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese manufacturer of automobiles, commercial vehicles and SUV’s headquartered in Taizhou, Zhejiang and a subsidiary of GAC Group. It markets its products under the brand name GAC Gonow in China and as Gonow in other markets.

Trumpchi

Trumpchi is an automotive marque owned by GAC Group which was launched in December 2010. The following Trumpchi vehicles are currently available in China:

Trumpchi GA3/GA3S, a four-door compact sedan
Trumpchi GA5, a four-door mid-size sedan, including the GA5 REV, a range extender electric vehicle
Trumpchi GA6, a four-door full size sedan
Trumpchi GS4, a five-door sport utility vehicle
Trumpchi GS5 Super, a five-door sport utility vehicle
Trumpchi GS7, a five-door sport utility vehicle
Trumpchi GS8, a five-door sport utility vehicle