Shanghai (ZXZC)- GAC Aion, the BEV-focused subsidiary of GAC Group, announced on April 15 it plans to double the annual capacity of its intelligent ecosystem manufacturing plant to 200,000 new vehicles in early 2022 with nearly 500 million yuan ($76.624 million) to be invested.

GAC Aion plant; photo credit: GAC Aion

Starting production in April 2019, the plant features such capabilities as the flexible production of steel-aluminium car body, the digital independent decision-making and the comprehensive utilization of energy. Those are all conducive to the factory's transition from focusing on traditional volume production to achieving large-scale interactive customization, said the EV maker.

GAC Aion plant; photo credit: GAC Aion

GAC Aion also noted the capacity expansion is mainly due to the rapid sales growth and a further potential sales increase following the launch of the Aion Y.

The EV manufacturer has rolled out four production models—the Aion S, the Aion LX, the Aion V and the Aion Y. As the first model coming after GAC Aion was launched as a standalone brand in last November, the Aion Y rolled off the assembly line on April 5 and will hit the market at the Auto Shanghai 2021. Besides, it is also the first mass-produced model carrying GAC's “cartridge battery”.

According to GAC Group, GAC Aion sold 7,032 new vehicles in March, posting 103.4% surge year on year and 116.5% hike month on month. For the first quarter of 2021, the EV maker saw its sales soar 120.9% over the previous year to 17,649 units.