On January 12, L.T. GAC MOTOR GA6, a model designed for the elite, appeared in the 2015 North International American Auto Show (NAIAS). As a flagship product among GAC MOTOR Class-B series, GA6 is highly attracted by international media since its debuted, and it sets up a new benchmark of original design and quality in current China’s auto industry today. The model is greatly significant to GAC Motor and even all Made-in-China independent brands.
GAC MOTOR creates development opportunities for the Chinese vehicle brands by upgrading its models in all aspects
GAC MOTOR has been widely praised inside and outside the industry, since its establishment. The word-of-mouth contribution rate was over 30%. In 2014 its annual sales volume was more than 116,800 units, at a growth rate of 41% under such a declining economic background. Its market volume reached 250,000 units, thus further expanding its brand popularity and reputation. GAC MOTOR has gradually transformed its development pattern from previous introduction-learning-absorption-renovation to technology-based comprehensive innovation, and entered into a stage of leapfrog development. Depending on the design concept of “Flying Dynamics”, power combination of new engine & transmission, NCAP five-star safety performance of all models, as well as GAC’s production patterns, GAC MOTOR is fully confident to compete with world-renowned brands.
As the new generation of flagship model of GAC MOTOR, GA6 combines international design standards with Chinese-style elegant aesthetic elements closely, and it is equipped with the industry-leading T-7 Speed powertrain, thereby integrating world-class quality, advanced technology, excellent industrial design as a whole, symbolizing comprehensive upgrading of GAC MOTOR in vehicle design and manufacturing, as an iconic product among Chinese car brands.
“GAC MOTOR GA6 is a masterpiece in industrial aesthetics.” An insider gave comments to the model. The model was designed by the team led by Zhang Fan, the chief styling engineer of GAC Automotive Engineering Institute, by following the concept of light & sculpture as well as “Flying Dynamics”, also highlights smooth lines and surfaces in a changing manner, thus presenting light & transformation effects, and interpreting GAC MOTOR brand design aesthetics.
Interior and exterior styling is matched effectively. The appearance expresses a solid, flying and stretching image, and smooth horizontal lines show the enterprising elements of GAC MOTOR family. The interior design is themed at “driver-centric” 360° suspension surrounded-type integrated aerospace style, and brings driver aerospace-like driving experience.
GAC MOTOR GA6 is equipped with 1.8Tengine+7-speed G-DCT utomatic manual transmission, and provides strong power instantaneously. Shifting gears in 0.2 second ensures the smooth power output and lower fuel consumption; the model is firstly provided with Start-Stop engine technology, which is capable to reduce the combined fuel consumption to 6.8L per 100 km. It is also operated under ECO economic mode for more intelligent and more environmental driving experience.
GA6 is also equipped with many cutting-edge devices and technology: Front Collision Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Monitoring System, 360°Panoramic Parking Image System, thereby providing customers with unprecedented comfort; BOSCH’s latest ESP 9.1, TPMS, six airbags, and GAC five-star safety body all provide a full-range protection for the vehicle and passengers; it is also provided with PEPS , Smart key system, EPB, cruise control system, multi-mode full-dimensional intelligent driving memory, auto-tilt side mirrors in reverse, and other leading intelligent systems, thereby creating ultimate luxury experience for customers.
Develop a brand-new Class-B model for breakthrough and build a world-class leading Chinese brand
Over the years, Chinese independent brands have made continuous efforts to develop Class-B models, but all of them failed. It is shown from related data the total sales volume of class-B models under Chinese independent brands was less than 6,000 pieces in October 2014. In recent years, the market share of Chinese independent brands has declined in class-B segments under the joint ventures’ competition. Especially in the middle-/high-end market, Chinese independent brands are striving hard for survival, due to sale volume decline of their middle-/high-end models.
It is very difficult to develop a brand-new Class-B model for market breakthrough. But GAC MOTOR considers such breakthrough as a necessary stage and mission, in order to promote brand influence, and establish Chinese customers’ understanding and confidence in local brands. Since the release of its first product in 2010, GAC MOTOR has been positioned as a high quality independent brand. It started from middle-/ high-end models to establish a high-end brand image, and won good reputation in market.
Over four years of brand and technology accumulation, GAC MOTOR is impacting the joint venture brands, depending on the courage of challenger, through comprehensive quality upgrading in GA6. GAC MOTOR is exploring a development pattern that any Chinese brand has never gone through before, which aims to change low-quality and low-cost development pattern in industry. This is why GAC MOTOR is able to act as a challenger to joint venture brands. “If the Chinese brands fail to make a breakthrough in Class-B model market, they will never create influential own brand under brand-upgraded concept.” Wu Song said, the general manager of GAC, and he believed the only development pattern for independent brands was to implement brand-upgraded strategy, improve brand value, and develop high-end brand.
During this NAIAS, GAC MOTOR released its GA6, new compact urban SUV GS4 and intelligent-driving concept car WITSTAR, as the only Chinese exhibitor, not only implementing GAC MOTOR’s global strategy, but also exploring a development route for Chinese auto manufacturers in landing in oversea market and establishing world-class brands. We have reasonable grounds to expect one or two Chinese auto companies will realize their dream and develop into world-class brand enterprises, under tireless pursuit, by leveraging the opportunity from China, the world’s largest auto market.
