GAC Aims To Battle Tesla With Its New Aion S Electric Vehicle

GAC Motors has announced its intention to beat Tesla by unveiling the new Aion S at the Guangzhou Motor Show.

Set to be launched in China next year, the Aion S is an electric sedan that has been designed to provide customers with Tesla-like performance at a “reasonable price.”

GAC was tight-lipped about specifics, but the model features an aerodynamic exterior with a drag coefficient of 0.245. The company says this is roughly the same as the Tesla Model 3.

Besides being extremely aerodynamic, the Aion S features a fairly conventional front fascia with a slender grille that is flanked by LED headlights. Further below, we can see large air intakes which appear to be just for show.

Moving further back, the Aion S has stylish wheels and an available solar roof. The model also has LED taillights and black accents that cut through the C-pillars.

While GAC didn’t mention performance specifications, the company confirmed the car will have a range in excess of 310 miles (500 km). The model will also have a “body stability system” from Bosch and Level 2 semi-autonomous driving technology. Speaking of the latter, the Aion S will have automatic parking assistance, cruise assistance and traffic congestion assistance.

While some may doubt GAC’s ability to tackle Tesla, the company defended their ambitions by saying they have spent the last decade mastering “five core technologies” including batteries, motors, control units, systems integration and electro-mechanical coupling systems. The company also noted, “In the past, people also used to laugh at Toyota, Honda and Hyundai, but they aren’t laughing anymore.”

It remains to be seen if the company will achieve its goal, but GAC has previously said it intends to begin U.S. sales next year.