GAC AION is entering Romania through Inchcape, the distributor already associated with Toyota and Lexus in the local market. The first two models announced for Romania are the AION V electric SUV and the AION UT electric hatchback. The local programme is not yet a full price-list launch: Romanian prices, final specifications, dealer locations and the exact first-delivery timetable still need to be confirmed.

A new brand with an established distributor

AION is the electric-car brand of Guangzhou Automobile Group, usually known as GAC. The group is expanding in Europe with a mixture of electric models, regional distribution partners and local after-sales structures. Inchcape confirmed in a 2026 corporate update that its collaboration with GAC AION had been extended to Romania in July.

That detail matters because a new car brand needs more than a vehicle on display. Customers need a route for ordering, warranty claims, software support, accident repairs and parts. Inchcape says it will coordinate the local development of GAC AION and build a national dealer and service network. The public announcement does not yet provide a complete list of Romanian locations, the number of facilities or the opening dates.

The Romanian arrival follows a wider European rollout. GAC introduced the AION V to Europe in 2025 and later presented the AION UT as its second AION model for the region. GAC says the UT is designed at its Milan design centre and manufactured at Magna’s Austrian facility. Those details describe the European industrial plan, but they do not automatically confirm every equipment level that will be offered in Romania.

AION V: the larger electric SUV

The AION V is the larger of the two launch vehicles and uses an electric SUV body. GAC Europe lists up to 510 km of WLTP range. That is a type-approval value for specified versions and test conditions, not a promise that every journey will cover 510 km. Ambient temperature, speed, heating, air conditioning, traffic, tyres and payload can all change real-world energy use.

The European product page mentions an integrated heat pump, an all-in-one electric drive system and the ADiGO 5.0 interactive system. GAC also highlights an unusually large panoramic roof, front seats with eight-point massage, rear seats reclining to 137 degrees and a three-mode cabin refrigerator. These are manufacturer-listed features; the Romanian importer still needs to confirm which combination belongs to the local trim levels.

GAC states that the AION V has achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The European page also describes seven airbags and Level 2 intelligent-driving hardware. Buyers should check the exact safety specification of the Romanian car because assistance features and standard equipment can vary between markets.

For Europe, GAC has announced an eight-year or 160,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight-year or 200,000 km battery warranty. The company has also described three years of pan-European roadside assistance supplied with Allianz Partners. The Romanian warranty booklet will be the relevant document for exclusions, service intervals, battery conditions and transfer to a subsequent owner.

AION UT: a compact electric hatchback

The AION UT is the smaller model, a compact electric hatchback aimed at European urban use. GAC lists a 4,270 mm body length and a 2,750 mm wheelbase. The company says the wheelbase helps create cabin space closer to that of a larger car. The European specification gives the UT up to 430 km of WLTP range.

GAC designed the UT in Milan and produces it with Magna in Austria. The company describes the car as compact enough for city streets but spacious enough for regular trips beyond the urban area. Its European launch material lists a 30–80% charging time of 24 minutes and an eight-year warranty. Battery capacity, charging power and standard equipment can vary by market, so the Romanian version should not be judged from a different country’s brochure alone.

The two-car strategy gives the local range a clear split. The AION V targets buyers who want an SUV body, a higher driving position and more family-oriented space. The AION UT targets the compact hatchback class, where exterior dimensions, parking ease and purchase price are more important. Both are battery-electric vehicles, but GAC and Inchcape have not published the Romanian list prices in the official material reviewed here.

What the Romanian announcement does not answer

The local programme still lacks prices in euros, trim levels, finance offers, dealer addresses, service pricing and a precise customer-delivery date. There is also no public Romanian confirmation of the exact WLTP variants, even though GAC’s European pages list up to 510 km for the AION V and up to 430 km for the AION UT.

Charging access will be as important as the range figure. A buyer who regularly travels between Romanian cities will need to map fast-charging availability and consider winter consumption, motorway speed and queueing at busy stations. The V’s larger-SUV format may suit longer family trips, while the UT may be easier to place in a city fleet or a daily commute. Without Romanian pricing and service tariffs, no reliable ownership-cost comparison can yet be made with established electric models.

GAC AION is entering a market that already includes compact EVs, electric SUVs and several Chinese brands. Long-term evaluation will depend on how quickly the network opens, how parts are supplied and how software and warranty cases are handled. For now, the confirmed information is narrower: Inchcape is preparing local distribution, and the first two Romanian GAC AION models are the AION V and AION UT.

Sources

Image: GAC Europe. Official product image used subject to the GAC website’s usage terms.