GAC's 30 Million Is Different From Others' 30 Million

Feng Xingya handed the key to the 30,000,000th vehicle into the hands of a Thai person.

Tony Jaa, male lead of 'Ong-Bak', new owner of the right-hand drive Trumpchi M8 PHEV. This scene froze at the GAC Trumpchi factory on July 16, also marking a period point for GAC after 29 years—from its establishment in 1997 amidst questioning, to today's 30 million vehicles off the line.

But what's truly interesting is not the number 30 million, but how GAC got here, and where it's going next.

Where is the value in GAC's 30 million?

First, a set of data: 0 to 10 million, GAC took 20 years; 10 million to 30 million, only 9 years. In the first half of this year, GAC sold 773,100 vehicles, up slightly 2.35% year-on-year, but new energy skyrocketed 68.8%, exports surged 132%.

More noteworthy is the arrangement at the event: GAC global multi-factory synchronous connection, Honda P7, Toyota bZ7, Qijing GT7, Aion N60, Hyper S600 respectively as the 29,999,995th to the 29,999,999th vehicles off the line, finally the 30 millionth was right-hand drive M8 PHEV.

What does this mean? GAC's 30 million was not shouldered by a single god-tier vehicle, but walked out on four legs: joint venture + independent brand + new energy + going overseas. This balance is not common among the few Chinese carmakers who have reached the 30 million threshold.

GAC's strongest trump card is actually not at the press conference

Feng Xingya said a very old-school sentence on site: Quality is the bottom line GAC will never cede.

But what's truly hardcore is the system behind him. Before every new car launches, it must pass Five Highs, One Mountain, One Dust—60°C Turpan high heat, -40°C Hulunbuir extreme cold, high altitude, high humidity, high salt mist, mountain areas, sand and dust, plus Two Winters and One Summer field trials, 12 major items, 1500+ validation sub-items.

Several data points are worth remembering: Danxia batteries installed 1.5 million units, safe driving over 160 billion kilometers; Star Spirit safety protection system helped nearly 2 million users avoid 6.28 million potential risks; Aion Intelligent Ecological Factory is the world's first new energy Lighthouse Factory.

Also launched end of last year Three Responsibilities—Three-electric system spontaneous combustion directly replace with new car, battery decay over limit free exchange, intelligent parking accident full responsibility. In the industry, those daring to do this can be counted on one hand.

Feng Xingya's sentence rephrased is: You can dislike my speed, but you cannot say I am rough.

GAC is truly changing in user thinking

In 2024 GAC moved headquarters back to Panyu, launched Panyu Action, core is one thing: switch from engineer thinking to user thinking.

Specific actions include: Regularly holding User All Open Mic, inviting owners to HQ to complain face to face; establishing exclusive user insight department, guaranteeing demand loop from organization; channel sinking to county level, plan to add 1000 authorized stores this year; charging network 9 Vertical 10 Horizontal covering 213 cities, self-operated charging piles over 27,000, core urban area straight line 1 kilometer must have station; Online Super Butler promises 5 seconds response, 2 hours completion.

These actions alone are not earth-shattering, but together they explain one problem: GAC knows it was a bit far from users in the past, now trying desperately to pull back.

Going overseas is the real incremental growth

First half year exports 121,500 vehicles, year-on-year surge 132%, already close to last year's full year level. Thailand June month-on-month growth 207%, European localization production also being built.

Currently GAC has entered 110 countries and regions, 746 sales outlets, 7 overseas factories, 9 overseas parts warehouses. 2030 target is to enter 120 countries, 2000 overseas outlets, annual sales 1 million.

Feng Xingya handing the 30 millionth key to a Thai person is not a pose, it is a statement.

The card Qijing plays is quite interesting

Qijing GT7 is jointly built by GAC and Huawei Qiankun, launched June 26, 24 hours large orders break 5,200 units. It is currently the only mass-produced vehicle equipped with Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Driving ADS 5.

This line aligns with today's Huawei Qiankun media day info—Huawei says it wants to be an electronic screw, GAC catches it to make the whole vehicle, Qijing is the product at this intersection. Second half year still launch GX7, dual-car matrix lands.

Question is: Huawei side already has Five Realms, adding Qijing, Yijing, how to split resources? This is a continuous game GAC will play next.

Bang Comments

GAC's 30 million, and China automotive industry's 30 million, are two not completely overlapping concepts.

Former is 29 years from joint venture to independent, from fuel to new energy, from domestic to overseas complete evolution history; latter is industry from big to strong shadow. GAC received China Quality Award Nomination Award, Aion consecutive three years new energy quality first, Hyper first complete year ran to new energy luxury brand second—these awards and data, behind is Honda TPS, Toyota TQM plus Lingnan culture knitted together quality management system, is Joint venture feeding back independent this road run through proof.

But the problem after 30 million is also very realistic: Independent sector four brands (Trumpchi, Aion, Hyper, Qijing) how to offset positioning? Going overseas from 120,000 units to 1 million, remaining 4 years flip 8 times, rhythm can follow? Qijing eating ADS 5 first red benefit, how to fight for more resources in Huawei ecosystem?

Feng Xingya used four words on site: Gratitude, Adherence, Sincerity, Going Together. Old-school, but sincere.

30 million is not the endpoint, is the starting line of the next road. Whether GAC can run faster, look at Qijing, look at going overseas, also look at that electronic screw screwed tight enough.