Shanghai (ZXZC)- GAC Group said its full-year auto production and sales of 2019 were better than expected. Last year, the automaker output 2,023,814 vehicles (-7.76%) and sold 2,062,160 new vehicles (-3.99%), and had roughly 2.0849 million vehicles delivered to consumers.

ZXZC hereby summarizes GAC's significant events that happened in 2019, helping you review what efforts the automaker has made for its offensives in auto electrification, ICV, mobility service and international markets.

GAC unveils R&D center in Detroit, to open R&D centers in Germany, India

GAC Group unveiled a research and development (R&D) center in Detroit, the biggest city of Michigan, on January 15 (local time in Detroit). This is the third R&D center the automaker had built in the U.S., the other two are located in Silicon Valley and Los Angeles.

Covering a total floorage of over 4,500 square meters, the newly-unveiled R&D center is situated at the core industrial zone of Detroit which not only boasts a complete traditional industry chain and abundant resources for vehicle tests, but also sports some powerful facilities for autonomous vehicle tests such as "American Center of Mobility" and "M-City".

As a crucial foothold for GAC Group's globalization strategy, the Detroit-based center was designed to shore up the domestic capability in vehicle R&D and strengthen the development of models targeting North American market by absorbing superior international technologies and deeply integrating GAC Automotive Engineering Institute's product development and technology innovation systems.

GAC Group, Tencent to co-launch intelligent connectivity, mobility service program

An intelligent connectivity and mobility service program jointly funded by GAC Group, Tencent, Guangzhou Public Transport and other investors would be officially launched in June this year, GAC Group revealed on April 1 at its 2018 annual performance announcement conference.

GAC Group said the new program would be started in Guangzhou first and then would step into five China's cities in 2019 with 10,000 NEVs deployed.

Using B2C (Business-to-Customer) mode in an initial stage, the new ICV and mobility service program would deploy tailor-made intelligent-connected NEVs to offer users all-round mobility life scenarios. Besides, all drivers and vehicles must be strictly managed to ensure service quality and safety.

Daphne Zheng leaves as GAC FCA Sales Company's President, succeeded by Max Trantini

Daphne Zheng, president of the Guangzhou Automotive Group Fiat Chrysler Automotive (GAC FCA) Sales Co.,Ltd and FCA's Chief Operating Officer for China, would be leaving this group with her whereabouts remaining unknown for now, according to an announcement released by FCA Group in late April. 

Max Trantini would succeed Ms. Zheng as President of GAC FCA Sales Company. According to the announcement, he was going to bring rich industry experience to this role with previous positions including CEO at Getrag Jiangxi Transmissions, CEO at the transmission joint venture between FCA and GAC, and most recently Director of China Business Development for FCA.

GAC Motor unveils international sub-company in Hong Kong on May 21

GAC Motor, a PV manufacturing subsidiary wholly owned by GAC Group, unveiled GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd in Hong Kong on May 21, according to a press release from the automaker.

Registered in March 2019, GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAC Motor, which would serve as the parent company’s platform for capital, talent pool and investment in a bid to enhance the receipt and payment efficiency and provide international dealers with inventory ownership services. Meanwhile, it aimed to recruit more outstanding global talents by virtue of Hong Kong’s regional advantage, so as to perfect GAC Motor’s executive structure.

Construction of AT joint venture between GAC Motor, Aisin AW kicks off

On May 28, the automatic transmission (AT) joint venture between GAC Motor and the world-renowned AT manufacturer Aisin AW was put into construction at the GAC Intelligence & Connectivity NEV Industrial park in Guangzhou.

The joint venture, dubbed GAC Aisin Automatic Transmission Co., Ltd, is the first automatic transmission joint venture program introduced by Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong Province. Its launch of construction signifies a further step of the collaboration between the China-owned car brand and the world’s leading core auto parts provider, and is also an elevated fruit for GAC Group in supply chain building.

GAC Motor and Aisin AW held the signing ceremony of the AT joint venture program in Beijing on April 24, 2018. According to the agreement, both parties would conduct the cooperation in manufacturing, sale, after-sale service and relevant technical consultation of the AT and AT-related components to jointly enhance both parties’ products competitiveness and brand premium capability.

Didi, GAC Group step up cooperation in ride-hailing service, autonomous driving

Ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing and GAC Group cemented their cooperation on June 26 after they forged a strategic partnership in April 2018. Both parties were going to carry out collaboration in such areas as vehicle promotion, customized services, operation as well as ride-hailing service and autonomous driving.

GAC Group officially launched its mobility service platform “ON TIME” on the same day. Aside from GAC Group, Tencent and Guangzhou Public Transport, Didi Chuxing is also among the investors of the new mobility program.

By virtue of the big data analysis capability and operational experience in car-hailing field, Didi is able to provide ON TIME with its technology platform, supply-demand matching & transaction strategies, and other abilities in driver & passenger experience enhancement, marketing & branding, customer service respond & disposal mechanisms.

FAW, Dongfeng, GAC's mobility services integrated on Didi's open platform

Didi Chuxing announced on July 15 it formally opened up its ride-hailing platform to third-party mobility service providers in a bid to converge more mobility resources to meet intensified travelling demands at rush hours.

The ride-hailing services from FAW Group and Dongfeng Motor, as well as GAC's newborn mobility service platform "ON TIME" would be given access to Didi's main app so as to serve Didi's 550 million registered users across China, said the C2C ride-hailing giant.

The cooperation between Didi and the third parties would proceed in this way–third parties would make use of Didi's powerful platform to receive orders at the cost of paying certain numbers of commission to the latter. Meanwhile, drivers and vehicles should be offered by the third parties themselves, according to a person with director knowledge.

GAC Group reveals ADiGO in-car smart ecosystem, to be used in Aion LX first

GAC Group on July 28 launched its self-developed in-car intelligent-connected ecosystem ADiGO that integrates such features as intelligent factory, autonomous driving and IoT (Internet of Things). The newly-launched system comprises two subsystems focusing on autonomous driving and IoT respectively and planned to roll out the cloud and big data platforms afterwards.

The ADiGO autonomous driving system had already made its premiere at the Auto Shanghai 2019 in April. Powered by big data and various AI technologies, the self-driving system is available for mass production in level 3 and is able to support level 4 pilot running in some closed scenarios.

Showing up for the first time, the ADiGO IoT system was designed to efficiently cope with businesses by grasping consumer's sensuous demands and analyzing them rationally, said GAC Group.

GAC Group announces sweeping personnel changes to improve self-owned brand

GAC Group announced on July 31 a series of personnel changes in a bid to strengthen the group's internal integration of research, production and market, improve the communication efficiency and enhance the cooperative work among all business sectors.

According to the company's announcement, Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Motor (the PV subsidiary wholly owned by GAC Group) was named chairman of GAC New Energy Automobile Co.,Ltd (GAC NE), while Zhang Yuesai, chairman of GAC Business, would replace Feng, serving as general manager of GAC Motor.

Besides, Yu Jun has become head of GAC Group's international business arm and is no longer the chairman of GAC NE and president of GAC Motor. Liu Wei and Hu Su would additionally head the complete vehicle business and data information branches respectively.

All aforesaid personnel changes became effective on August 1, 2019.

Pony.ai, GAC Group launches Aion LX's level 4 self-driving version

In September, Chinese self-driving startup Pony.ai and GAC Group jointly launched a level 4 autonomous vehicle based on the platform that creates the Aion LX, an all-electric SUV model launched by GAC New Energy (GAC NE), according to a post on Pony.ai's WeChat account.

The level 4 model would be applied in the self-driving pilot project co-operated by both parties, offering the public driverless mobility services.

The Aion LX, the second model in GAC NE's Aion range, made its debut on August 29, featuring level 3 autonomous driving assistance then. Now, the version with higher level of self-driving applications has come out before it hits the market.

Toyota steps up cooperation with FAW, GAC for electrification, ICV

Toyota had cemented the cooperation with two Chinese state-owned automaker partners, FAW Group and GAC Group, to jointly research and develop electrified vehicles, the Japanese automaker announced on September 26.

According to the framework agreements Toyota respectively signed with two companies, the Japanese and two Chinese automakers would make joint efforts to promote the R&D and popularization of electrified vehicles in the world's largest auto market.

Apart from co-launching more hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, all parties would be dedicated to rolling out affordable high-quality all-electric and hydrogen fuel cell models to satisfy Chinese consumers' demands over power diversity.

Besides, the step-up cooperation also involved ICV-related projects, said Toyota.

GAC NE's Aion LX hits the market with range up to 650km

GAC New Energy Automobile Co.,Ltd (GAC NE), a wholly-owned NEV subsidiary of GAC Group, saw the Aion LX, its new flagship model in the Aion range, hit the market on October 17. Offered in five trim levels, the new BEV model is priced between RMB249,600 and RMB349,600.

Premiering at the Auto Shanghai 2019, the Aion LX is an all-electric SUV that is capable of Level 3 autonomous driving assistance, and harnesses solar power to create an energy-efficient internal cabin. It is the second model in GAC NE's Aion range, following the subsidiary’s initial inroad to the EV market with the Aion S, which went on sale on April 27, 2019.

With independent front suspension with MacPherson struts and a multi-link rear, the Aion LX delivers outstanding performance with decreased energy consumption, sprinting from 0 to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The range is one of bright spots that should be highlighted. Notably, the two-wheel-drive “80” and four-wheel-drive “80D”versions, powered by CATL's NCM 811 battery cells, have NEDC-rated ranges of 650km and 600km respectively.

Bosch, GAC R&D Center jointly launch SAE L4 automated valet parking system

On October 23, Bosch, one of the world's biggest automotive suppliers, and GAC R&D Center jointly launched an automated valet parking (AVP) system capable of SAE Level 4 functions at the Bosch Connected Mobility Conference 2019.

Both parties agreed cooperation at the same time, saying Bosch would provide the Guangzhou-based automaker with AVP system as well as supporting hardware and software for infrastructures this year. The set of devices would be put into trial operation at the parking lot of GAC R&D Center.

Moreover, the newly-launched system would be applied in GAC-owned models and was expected to assist users with their parking operation in scenarios like business districts.

To ensure safety, the level 4 AVP system would limit a vehicle's speed to around 5-7km/h.

GAC Honda's first all-electric SUV VE-1 hits the market

GAC Honda launched its first all-electric SUV VE-1 on October 21. Offered in three trim levels, the new BEV model is priced from RMB159,800 and RMB179,800 after subsidy.

The new model, in which Honda’s SPORT EV technology is applied for the first time, boasts improved performance in safety and maneuverability. The powertrain system consists of permanent magnet synchronous motor, large capacity battery package and highly integrated power distribution system. The motor is capable of producing 120kW of power and offers a peak torque of 280N·. The vehicle can accelerate from 0-50km/h in 4seconds with a NEDC-rated range of 401 kilometers.     

GAC R&D Center, Neusoft REACH to co-build SDV-focused innovation center

GAC R&D Center on November 24 inked an agreement with Neusoft REACH, a Sino-Japanese joint venture focusing on developing ADAS and V2X technologies, to cooperate on R&D of automotive cutting-edge technologies based on the SDV (software defined vehicles) concept, according to GAC Group. At the signing ceremony, both parties also announced the establishment of a joint innovation hub where the SDV cooperation would be carried out.

Through the newly-unveiled innovation center, both parties would jointly research and develop cutting-edge technologies based on the idea of SDV, carrying out a stable long-term collaboration in new technologies about basic software, connectivity and new energy vehicles, according to the agreement.

Besides, they would jointly work on researching technical planning, setting up standards, applying for projects and training personnel.

GAC Group launches e-TIME plan

GAC Group, along with its Trumpchi and GAC NE subsidies, released its e-TIME plan at the Auto Guangzhou 2019. The plan covers five aspects, namely user experience (e), innovative technology (T), intelligence (I), intelligent manufacture (M) and electrification (E). Besides, the Chinese automaker aims to electrify all its models by 2025.      

The group has developed a number of products in mild hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid, all-electric and fuel cell segments. With regard to HEV, the Guangdong-headquartered company has been co-developing hybrid electric products with the Japanese automaker Toyota. Their hybrid products, equipped with THS (Toyota hybrid system), are expected to be unveiled by 2021. GAC also creates its own G-MC (GAC mechatronic coupling) system which can be applicable to both HEV and PHEV. Up to now, the group has rolled out three NEV models—the GE3, the Aion S and the Aion LX.

In addition, the group unveiled a concept model Magic Box at the auto show. The vehicle in a futuristic design is built based on 5G-enabled V2X (vehicle to everything) technologies.

Chinese auto giants GAC Group, SAIC Motor become strategic partners

Two Chinese state-owned auto giants SAIC Motor and GAC Group inked a framework agreement on December 23 to carry out a widespread strategic cooperation in a number of realms, both companies announced via their WeChat accounts.

The significant collaboration would involve such areas as technical R&D, resource synergy, investment, market expansion, business model innovation and global business operation, said GAC Group. This is the first-time tie-up formed between the two high-end manufacturing titans in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone.