GAC Trumpchi E9

Model Overview

The GAC Trumpchi E9 is GAC Trumpchi's first plug-in hybrid mid-to-large MPV, positioned as the "China Intelligent Electric NEV Flagship MPV", and officially debuted at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show. The "E" represents electrification and intelligence, while "9" signifies its flagship status, marking it as the first production model to roll out Trumpchi's intelligent electric hybrid technology. Built on Trumpchi's dedicated new energy platform, the vehicle centres around "intelligent electric efficiency, all-scenario comfort, and business-meets-family versatility", carrying an official retail price of RM319,800 to RM409,800, targeting the mid-to-high-end MPV segment.

Design Language

Centred around oriental aesthetics, the Trumpchi E9 offers two distinct front fascia designs: "Kunpeng Spreading Wings" and "Awakened Lion". The "Kunpeng Spreading Wings" front grille features six horizontal slats paired with a full-width light bar, flanked by five vertical light strips on each side to create a "nine horizontal and five vertical" motif—symbolising supreme status and tailored for executive transport; the Grandmaster Edition sports the "Zhentian Wing 2.0" Awakened Lion front fascia, where a vertical waterfall grille delivers a more commanding and aggressive road presence. In terms of exterior dimensions, it measures 5,193 mm (5,212 mm on select variants) to 5,212 mm in length, 1,893 mm in width, and 1,823 mm in height, with a 3,070 mm wheelbase that adopts a golden-ratio short-overhang, long-wheelbase profile. The rear is styled around the "Gate of Time and Space" concept, featuring full-width LED taillights that mirror the front lighting signature, while bold geometric lines enhance its overall visual identity.

Powertrain and Performance

The entire Trumpchi E9 range is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain pairing a 2.0T dedicated hybrid engine with a front-mounted electric motor, mated to a GMC400 2-speed DHT gearbox—making it the only MPV in its class powered by a 2.0T PHEV setup. The petrol engine delivers a maximum power of 140 kW (around 190 PS) and 330 Nm of torque, while the electric motor produces 134 kW and 300 Nm, yielding a combined system output of 274 kW (approx. 373 PS) and 630 Nm. It completes the 0–100 km/h sprint in an official 8.8 seconds, with a top speed of 175 km/h. Fuel and range figures are anchored by a 25.57 kWh Magazine Battery, delivering a CLTC pure electric range of 136 km, a WLTC pure electric range of 106 km, a combined WLTC range of up to 1,032 km, and a depleted-battery fuel consumption of 6.05 L/100 km (WLTC), running on RON 92 petrol. For charging, the 2025 Super Fast Charging Edition packs a next-generation Magazine Battery capable of 4C ultra-fast charging, with real-world tests showing a 30% to 80% state of charge (SOC) top-up in just 7 minutes and 22 seconds. The MPV also supports a 6 kW vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) bi-directional discharging function.

Chassis and Handling

Underpinning the MPV is a front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link independent suspension setup, paired with an R-EPS electric power steering system and ventilated disc brakes all around, yielding a 100–0 km/h stopping distance of 39.2 metres. The range-topping variant gains an SDC electromagnetic adaptive suspension system that dynamically adjusts damping based on road conditions, effectively soaking up road imperfections to deliver a composed, plush ride with well-managed body roll through corners. Steering effort is light and precise, helping mask the bulk of its 5.2-metre body in tight urban streets or multi-storey car parks. NVH levels are equally well sorted, with 150 acoustic damping packages throughout the body and multi-layer acoustic glass keeping wind noise, tyre roar, and engine intrusion well suppressed across all speeds.

Cabin and Features

Inside, the cabin features a symmetrical "Swan Wings" layout housing a triple-screen dashboard: a 12.3-inch full digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch floating central touchscreen, and a 12.3-inch front passenger entertainment display, complemented by a 15.6-inch motorised fold-down ceiling screen in the second row to form a four-screen interconnected ecosystem. Driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip running the ADiGO intelligent connectivity system, it supports quad-zone voice control, facial recognition, gesture controls, and OTA software updates. Interior themes include "Yunshan Zhushui", "Opera Hall", and "Jockey Club Manor". The first two rows are upholstered in semi-aniline premium leather, with the second row treated to semi-aniline ultra-zero-gravity captain seats featuring 16-way power adjustment, ventilation, heating, and an upgraded 16-point SPA-grade massage function. Audio is delivered via a 20-speaker 7.1.4 panoramic surround sound setup tuned by dual audio processors. Flexible folding seats allow the boot to be expanded easily to suit diverse cargo requirements.

Safety and Intelligent Driving

On the passive safety front, the E9 comes standard with a 360-degree enveloping airbag matrix covering front, side, and full-length curtain airbags, with the Grandmaster Edition and higher variants adding a segment-first rear windscreen airbag designed to shield third-row passengers' heads during rear-end collisions. Its Magazine Battery has undergone stringent tests, demonstrating no fire and no explosion after 24-hour thermal runaway trials and surviving a 23-tonne crushing test unscathed. In terms of active safety and driver assistance, all variants feature the Level 2 ADiGO PILOT suite, incorporating Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Rear Collision Mitigation. Higher-spec models further benefit from 1,000-metre Memory Parking, 50-metre Reverse Tracking, Remote Parking, and Fusion Parking. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a 540-degree HD panoramic camera (including a transparent chassis view), providing clear visibility for parking and navigating narrow roads.

Market Performance and Evaluation

As the vanguard of the Trumpchi E-series, the Trumpchi E9 carried the critical mission of spearheading the brand's "Electrification + Intelligence" Dual-Core Strategy 2.0 era. In 2024, it registered annual sales of 12,409 units, placing 29th in the MPV segment. However, sales experienced a notable downturn in 2025, falling to 3,698 units; in January 2026, monthly sales slid further to just 62 units, ranking around 50th among monthly MPV sales. Its market performance trailed significantly behind primary rivals like the Denza D9 and Voyah Dreamer PHEV. From a product standpoint, the E9 earned solid praise for its 2.0T PHEV powertrain, 4C ultra-fast charging capability, refined chassis dynamics, and luxurious cabin appointments, even if commercial sales fell short of expectations. In 2026, Trumpchi introduced the "Trumpchi Xiangwang M8" as its successor, upgrading to a 44.5 kWh CATL Freevoy hybrid battery for an extended CLTC pure electric range of 202 km, while equipping the entire range with the HUAWEI Qiankun ADS 3.0 autonomous driving suite (complete with 192-line LiDAR) as standard—signalling a major leap in Trumpchi's intelligent vehicle strategy for the high-end MPV market. Serving as a crucial milestone in Trumpchi's transition from traditional hybrids to intelligent electrified powertrains, the E9's technological and market footprint has laid an indispensable foundation for future model iterations.