China’s GAC To Delay Entrance Into The U.S. Due To Trade Frictions

Chinese car manufacturer Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, also known as GAC Motor, is delaying its plans to enter the United States.

Auto News reports that GAC Motor long intended to start selling its vehicles in the U.S. in early 2020, but will postpone these targets due to the ongoing trade feud between China and America.

GAC had a strong presence at the Detroit Auto Show back in January 2018 and said that it would start selling the GS8 seven-seat SUV locally at some stage in 2019. However, the company pushed back that target to 2020 as trade tensions between the two countries started to grow. GAC also had a large stand at the Detroit Auto Show this year and revealed that its U.S. headquarters would be located in Irvine, California.

Also Read: GAC’s 7-Seat Entranze Is Chinese Brand’s First US-Designed Concept

The GS8 is sold under the Trumpchi brand in China and it has long been assumed that the company would change its name in the United States due to the political issues it could cause. However, many of the vehicles the company brought to Detroit earlier this year were wearing Trumpchi badges.

Chinese car manufacturers have long wanted to break into the North American market but so far, none have done so. Zotye recently announced that it has started recruiting dealerships across the country and intends on commencing U.S sales in late 2020. Additionally, Lynk & Co as well as Great Wall Motor, have expressed interest in selling their vehicles in the United States.

However, it seems unlikely that any of these companies will actually enter the American market while the current trade feud is ongoing.