GAC Group output and sold 2,138,127 and 2,144,387 vehicles through 2021, representing 5.08% and 4.92% year-on-year growth respectively despite the coronavirus pandemic and chip shortage.

ZXZC hereby summarizes GAC's significant events that happened in 2021 to review what efforts the automaker made to develop NEV, ICV, and mobility service businesses, boost financing progress, and cope with issues of supply constraint and COVID-19 disease.

Photo credit: GAC Group

WeRide invests in GAC's ride-sharing platform OnTime

GAC Group, WeRide and OnTime held a strategic cooperation and investment signing ceremony on Dec. 21, further cementing the trio’s future collaboration.

GAC Group announced that it will provide strategic investments to autonomous driving company WeRide, while WeRide invest in GAC’s mobility service platform OnTime.

GAC AION to post registered capital surge by nabbing money from GAC Group, GAC Motor

GAC AION, the wholly-owned NEV subsidiary of GAC Group, will take over the staff members of GAC R&D Center’s all-electric R&D business, and implement an internal asset restructuring by means of cash capital increase, asset injection, and conversion of capital public reserve, GAC Group announced on Nov. 29.

GAC Group announces carbon neutrality target at Auto Guangzhou 2021

At the Auto Guangzhou 2021 held in Nov., GAC Group announced that it will realize life-cycle carbon neutrality of its products before 2050, in addition to presenting its electrified and intelligent vehicles.

GAC Honda showcases first e:N BEV at Auto Guangzhou 2021

GAC Honda showcased its first battery-electric model, the e:NP1, at the Auto Guangzhou 2021.

The e:NP1 is built on Honda's e:N Architecture F, a specially developed architecture for compact and mid-sized electric vehicles. With an industry-leading electric motor power density and 20,000 scenario algorithms, the FWD e:NP1 offers an optimal driving experience.

WeRide introduces driverless Robotaxi with GAC Group, OnTime

WeRide, announced on Nov. 18 that it has entered into another strategic cooperation with GAC Group and its subsidiary mobility service platform OnTime to further its Robotaxi commercialization.

GAC Motor to transfer 49% stake in wholly-owned Hangzhou subsidiary

GAC Motor will transfer 49% stake in its wholly-owned subsidiary GAC MOTOR (Hangzhou) Co.,Ltd. via the Guangzhou Enterprises Mergers and Acquisitions Services, at a consideration of no fewer than 1.239 billion yuan ($194.8 million), according to an announcement of GAC Group, the parent company of GAC Motor.

GAC Group invests in Holomatic's C1 round

On Oct. 29, GAC Group signed a deep cooperation agreement with China's autonomous driving solution startup, Holomatic, and invested in the startup's C1-round of financing.

GAC's 1st FCV model put into trial operation on mobility service platform OnTime

The AION LX Fuel Cell, the first fuel cell vehicle model of GAC Group, has been put into trial operation on the OnTime, a GAC-backed mobility service platform, the Guangzhou-based auto giant announced on Oct. 18.

GAC Motor's vehicles to be sold in Mexico under Stellantis’ Dodge brand

GAC Motor, the wholly-owned PV subsidiary of GAC Group, and the global automaker Stellantis held a ceremony on Sept. 26 for the export of 770 SUVs to Mexico, according to a post on GAC Motor's WeChat account. Those SUVs were manufactured at GAC Motor's Hangzhou plant, while will be sold in Mexico tagged with Stellantis' Dodge brand.

Continental AG, NXP and GAC join hands to create intelligent connected products

Continental AG announced on Sept. 10 it had formed a strategic partnership with GAC R&D Center and NXP Semiconductors to create a new generation of advanced intelligent connect products.

GAC Group plans to bring new strategic investors for GAC AION

GAC Group intends to introduce strategic investors for its wholly-owned NEV-dedicated subsidiary GAC AION, the Guangzhou-based automaker announced on August 30.

According to the announcement, GAC Group will boost the increase of registered capital and shares for GAC AION by restructuring and integrating its NEV-related R&D capability, businesses, and assets.

GAC AION launches new battery tech with high charging multiplier speeds

In late Aug., GAC AION officially launched its super-fast charging battery technology that boasts 6 charging multipliers assisted by the A480 supercharger, which made its world's debut at the same time.

GAC Honda to build NEV assembly lines with 120,000-unit annual capacity

GAC Honda plans to expand its new energy vehicle (NEV) capacity by 120,000 units per year, according to a bidding announcement posted on the website of Guangzhou Public Resources Trading Center on August 13.

GAC Toyota's NEV capacity expansion project 1st phase begins operation

GAC Toyota, the joint venture between GAC Group and Toyota Motor, announced on July 25 the first phase of its NEV capacity expansion project has started operation in Nansha District, Guangzhou, marking a milestone in its deployment of NEV business.

GAC Group, Huawei to co-develop smart BEV model

The first vehicle model co-developed by GAC AION and Huawei is set to go into volume production at the end of 2023, GAC Group announced on July 9.

GAC AION sees monthly deliveries exceed 10,000 units for the first time

GAC AION announced it delivered 10,395 new vehicles in May 2021, representing a robust year-on-year leap of 154% and for the first time recording monthly deliveries of over 10,000 units.

GAC AION, DiDi Autonomous Driving to co-develop driverless NEV model

GAC AION announced on May 17 the strategic cooperation with DiDi Autonomous Driving as both parties plan to jointly develop a fire new driverless NEV model.

Under the agreement, the two companies will explore a joint venture partnership and project cooperation for intelligent vehicle development, combining DiDi Autonomous Driving's hardware & software R&D advantages with GAC Aion's NEV design & manufacturing capabilities and the resource of autonomous car platform.

GAC Group, Tencent step up cooperation for digital applications, mobility service platform

At the Auto Shanghai 2021, GAC Group and Tencent agreed to cement their strategic collaboration to jointly develop more digital products and build new mobility ecosystem, according to a posting on the automaker's WeChat account.

GAC AION to pour 500 million yuan in car plant expansion

GAC AION 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 ($78.6 million) to be invested.

Huawei, GAC AION said to ally on development of next-generation smart EVs

Huawei and GAC AION had started cooperation on the development of next-generation intelligent EVs, a local media channel reported in early March.

After being reached for comment, GAC Group said it had inked cooperation agreements with Huawei twice since 2017, and the progress for the new project will be announced in due course. Huawei said it will play a role as a technical partner and component supplier for the partnership.

GAC Group, GAC Honda warned of auto parts shortage

Some subsidiaries of GAC Group were warned by their suppliers that the auto parts supply for several models will be impacted by the faltering global economic climate amid the coronavirus spread, GAC Group revealed on Jan. 8.

GAC Group, Pearl River Investment ally on next-generation intelligent vehicle

GAC Group entered into a strategic partnership with Guangdong Pearl River Investment Management Group Co., Ltd. (Pearl River Investment) and Guangdong Yuanzhi Technology Group Co.,Ltd. on Jan. 5 for an intelligent vehicle project, the automaker announced via its WeChat account.