The AION UT is an all-new fully electric hatchback launched by GAC AION in 2025. Internally codenamed "Yingwulong" (Parrot Dragon), it is positioned as an "RM100,000 A-segment EV compact" and an "urban commuter tool". It marks GAC AION's third global strategic model following the AION Y Plus and AION V, aimed at young global buyers and family users.
Penned by the GAC Milan Advanced Design Centre under the helm of global design maestro Stephen, the car adopts a dynamic hatchback styling language. The AION UT made its public debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2024 before officially going on sale on 28 February 2025. It initially debuted with 3 variants priced between RM69,800 and RM101,800. Its product lineup expanded steadily thereafter, seeing the arrival of the AION UT Super in November 2025 and growing to 19 on-sale variants by May 2026, including the 320 Xinghui Edition, 330 Xingyao Edition, 420 Zhixiang Edition, and 420 Yongchongfeng Edition.
On the global front, the AION UT made its Hong Kong debut in June 2025 before entering the Philippine market, while also racking up over 4,500 bookings during its pre-sale phase in Thailand. In April 2026, it officially launched in Europe, with plans to enter the Japanese market in the summer of 2026 with a starting price of JPY 3,300,000. Key competitors in this segment include the BYD Seagull, Geely Xingyuan, and BYD Dolphin.
The AION UT adopts AION's fresh global design language, sporting a rounded, dynamic silhouette that blends playful charm with high-tech flair. The front fascia stands out with distinctive, irregular headlight clusters housing four-point matrix LED elements—dubbed the "Cute Bird Big Eyes"—complemented by a blanked-off grille and a blacked-out full-width lower air intake for high recognisability. Along the sides, a two-tone paint scheme is paired with semi-flush door handles and aero-optimised wheels, while a contrasting D-pillar garnish creates a floating roof visual effect. At the rear, a roof spoiler sits above full-width taillights that mirror the four-point lighting motif up front. Six nano-pigment exterior colours are offered—Titian Red, Monet Purple, Emerald Green, Champs Beige, Rocco White, and Seine Silver—alongside 3 interior themes.
The cabin features a clean, wraparound dashboard layout with straight horizontal lines, rectangular air-con vents, generous leatherette upholstery, and diamond stitching that elevate the overall interior ambience. A column-mounted electronic gear stalk frees up usable space on the centre console. Setting the benchmark for in-cabin tech in its class, it comes equipped with an 8.8-inch fully digital instrument cluster alongside a floating 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen running at a crisp 1920×1080 Full HD resolution. Other creature comforts include 32-colour ambient lighting, a 50W air-cooled wireless smartphone charger, and driver's seat ventilation, heating, and memory functions.
Under the skin, the AION UT is powered across the range by a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor in a front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration. The motor produces 100 kW (approx. 136 PS) and 145 Nm of torque, enabling a top speed of 150 km/h. It sprints from 0 to 50 km/h in 4.5 seconds, while an independently tested 75 km/h moose test speed demonstrates commendable low-to-medium-speed agility. Power delivery is tuned for seamless smoothness and urban commute efficiency, delivering instantaneous off-the-line torque for brisk city driving, though top-end acceleration tapers off more gently.
For energy storage, the AION UT employs GAC's proprietary lithium iron phosphate (LFP) "Magazine Battery 2.0" technology in several capacity options. The 2025 330 km model packs a 34.87 kWh battery, while the 420 km variant features a 44.12 kWh pack. CLTC-rated pure electric driving ranges span 320 km, 330 km, and 420 km, with later iterations offering up to 500 km. Both DC fast charging and AC charging are supported; a 30% to 80% DC fast charge takes just 24 minutes at peak charging rates of 70 to 80 kW. A 3.3 kW Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) reverse power supply comes standard across the board, alongside full-scenario V2G and V2V supercharging capabilities. Energy consumption averages between 11.4 and 16.1 kWh per 100 km.
In terms of underpinnings, the AION UT adopts a front-engine, front-wheel-drive setup with a MacPherson strut independent front suspension and a torsion beam non-independent rear suspension. The rear torsion beam utilizes a hot-stamped closed-section design with separate spring and damper mounts to enhance ride comfort, with overall chassis tuning biased towards composure and comfort on paved urban roads. Braking is handled by front ventilated discs and rear solid discs, paired with an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) and Auto Hold as standard. Steering is managed by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, delivering a tight turning radius of roughly 5.25 metres.
The AION UT does not skimp on chassis hardware. Its front subframe adopts a dual-layer stamped steel full-frame structure typically found in SUVs or larger segment vehicles, substantially improving crash energy dissipation and overall chassis rigidity. Underneath, full flat underbody covers protect the floorpan, reinforced by structural crossmembers around the battery pack area. The entire lineup rolls on 215 mm wide tyres—sized at either 215/60 R16 or 215/55 R17—for enhanced grip and driving stability. In terms of NVH performance, while the suspension effectively isolates minor road chatter, tyre roar and wind noise remain relatively noticeable.
Billed around a "Tech First Class" ethos, the AION UT boasts class-leading digital features. An 8.8-inch floating digital instrument cluster and a 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen (1920×1080 resolution) are standard fitment across all trims. Infotainment is driven by GAC's ADiGO 5.0 system with an integrated cloud AI voice assistant capable of contextual fuzzy matching and continuous dialogue, responding in just 500 ms. It allows seamless voice control over navigation, climate settings, seat functions, and defogging, or video streaming via bespoke in-car apps. Full smartphone integration is supported via HiCar, CarLink, and Apple CarPlay. Audio is delivered through either a 6-speaker or 12-speaker sound system.
The seats are trimmed in extensive leatherette upholstery; the driver's seat features electric adjustment, ventilation, heating, and memory, while the rear row benefits from dedicated rear air vents and USB charging ports. The rear quarters comfortably seat three adults, offering up to 905 mm of rear legroom in a conventional 5-seater (2+3) layout. Boot space is rated at 440 litres with a versatile three-tier partitioned floor capable of swallowing five 20-inch suitcases, expandable via split-folding rear seats. Other convenience amenities include the IBCM smart keyless access system (walk-away auto-lock, window closing, and mirror folding), a panoramic glass roof with an electric sunblind, a heat pump with dual-layer flow automatic air-con, driver seat "bed mode", a powered tailgate, illuminated vanity mirrors, a rear baby observation mirror, and 30 practical storage cubbies throughout the cabin.
On the passive safety front, the AION UT is engineered to meet both C-NCAP and Euro NCAP 5-star safety standards. High-strength steel accounts for 71% of the body structure, featuring a segment-first integrated high-strength side ring that sustained zero A-pillar deformation in 25% small overlap crash tests. ESC, TCS, and TPMS come standard across the range. Airbag coverage varies by trim: mid-to-low spec variants receive front and front-side airbags, while higher-grade variants are upgraded to 6 airbags across the cabin, including segment-exclusive V-shaped side curtain airbags designed to protect both adult females and children over 80 cm tall. For battery safety, Magazine Battery 2.0 tech has cleared gunshot penetration tests without catching fire, backed by an untarnished record of over 48 billion cumulative kilometres with zero spontaneous combustion incidents.
For active safety and ADAS, all variants come standard with reverse Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and a reverse pedal misapplication prevention system, features rarely seen in this class. High-spec variants gain the vision-based ADiGO L2 Advanced Driver Assistance System, packing Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). The full-speed ACC supports stop-and-go driving from 0 to 150 km/h. In addition, high-spec models add a 540° HD camera system (comprising a 360° surround-view monitor and a 180° transparent chassis view), enhancing situational awareness during low-speed driving and parking manoeuvres.
The AION UT stirred substantial market interest upon its arrival. In March 2025, its first full sales month, sales reached approximately 4,980 units. Overseas, pre-bookings in Thailand surpassed 4,500 units; in Europe, following its official launch in April 2026, it entered markets including the UK and Poland, leveraging localized assembly strategies to reduce costs. In terms of media reviews, automotive industry analyses highlighted that the AION UT brought "A-segment dimensions, confident high-speed handling, smart AI features, and global safety standards down to the RM60,000 price point". The ADiGO 5.0 system's voice response is 40% quicker than before with a 98% recognition rate for natural speech commands, placing its cabin tech at the forefront of the segment. Its heat pump air-con and dual-layer flow HVAC improve winter real-world range by roughly 15% over competitors, while DC fast charging runs about 6 minutes faster than segment averages.
On the other hand, the AION UT's market performance also faces certain headwinds. Its sales figures still trail behind rivals such as the BYD Seagull and Geely Xingyuan, which consistently pull monthly sales of 30,000 units. Industry observers note that GAC AION's strong association with the ride-hailing and fleet market has somewhat hindered its retail appeal among private car buyers, while production bottlenecks for entry-level variants have delayed deliveries of more affordable trims, dampening retail momentum. In spite of these short-term market hurdles, the AION UT continues to demonstrate GAC AION's sustained competitiveness in the compact electric hatchback segment by virtue of its generous dimensions, rich equipment levels, and global strategic layout.
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