GAC’s Aion brand recently launched in the United Kingdom with a dealer event at its new flagship showroom in Slough. The launch was carried out through a partnership with Jameel Motors, the same distributor group that has helped establish several other Asian automotive brands in the UK market. The Aion V is available to order and test drive immediately, priced from £36,450 on the road. The Aion UT is confirmed for the UK but won’t arrive until late 2026, with pricing still to be announced.
The UK launch adds another market to a European expansion that has been moving quickly. The brand is already selling in several countries on the continent, where both the Aion V and Aion UT are assembled at the Magna Steyr plant in Graz, Austria, primarily to avoid the EU’s additional tariffs on Chinese-built EVs. The UK sits outside the EU tariff framework entirely, so there’s no confirmed information that UK-market cars come from the Austrian plant rather than directly from China. GAC’s press material for the UK launch doesn’t specify the production source for British-market vehicles, and it’s worth noting that the Aion V was imported directly from China to early EU markets like Finland and Poland before Austrian production began. If the production origin matters to you, it’s a question worth putting directly to the dealer. More background on the Magna Steyr arrangement is in my article on the Aion V and Aion UT built in Austria for European markets.
The Aion V in the UK
The Aion V is a five-seat electric SUV and the model leading the UK launch. Full specifications are in my dedicated Aion V article, but here are the numbers that matter most for UK buyers.
The powertrain uses GAC’s Magazine Battery 2.0 technology with a 75.3 kWh LFP battery and a 165 kW (221 hp) front-mounted motor. WLTP range is 317 miles (510 km), and rapid charging takes the battery from 30 to 80% in 18 minutes. Boot space is 427 litres. The car achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating before its European launch, which matters when you’re considering an unfamiliar brand. Standard equipment includes a digital cockpit with voice control, online navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a heat pump, and OTA update capability.
The £36,450 OTR price includes VAT, first-year Vehicle Excise Duty, the registration fee, delivery and number plates. Final prices are confirmed at dealer level.
| Specification | Aion V |
|---|---|
| Battery | 75.3 kWh (LFP) |
| WLTP range | 317 miles (510 km) |
| Motor power | 165 kW (221 hp) |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Rapid charging (30-80%) | 18 minutes |
| Boot space | 427 litres |
| Euro NCAP | 5 stars |
| Starting price (UK OTR) | £36,450 |
Warranty: One of the Stronger Packages in the Market
The warranty structure Aion is offering in the UK stands out. The vehicle warranty runs to eight years or 100,000 miles, and the battery warranty covers eight years or 125,000 miles. Both figures are competitive in the current EV market, and the battery mileage limit is higher than several established rivals offer at this price point. Aion markets this as part of what it calls the Great 8 promise, a set of eight ownership commitments covering the warranty, servicing support, and the Aion companion app for remote vehicle access. Accessories fitted before delivery are covered for the full warranty period. Roadside assistance is included.
| Warranty | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | 8 years / 100,000 miles |
| Battery | 8 years / 125,000 miles |
| Roadside assistance | Included |
| Accessories (fitted before delivery) | Full warranty period |
The Aion UT: Coming Late 2026
The Aion UT is a compact hatchback aimed at the same buyers considering a Volkswagen ID.3 or Renault 5 E-Tech. It’s smaller than the Aion V at 4,270 mm long, uses a 60 kWh LFP battery with 430 km (267 miles) of WLTP range, and starts at €27,990 in mainland European markets. UK pricing hasn’t been confirmed. The car is shown on the UK website with a “Launching Late 2026” label, so there’s no confirmed date or price for British buyers yet.
How Does the Aion V Compare to the Competition?
The Aion V arrives in a segment that’s already well populated. The Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y are the established names here, and they all have considerably longer track records, wider dealer networks and stronger brand recognition in the UK. My article on Tesla Model Y alternatives in Europe covers that mainstream competitive picture in more detail.
But the more directly relevant comparison for some buyers might be the Chinese rivals already on UK roads. The BYD Atto 3 has been on sale here for longer, has a wider dealer network and a track record that UK buyers and fleet managers can already assess. My BYD Atto 3 vs VW ID.4 comparison covers that ground in detail. The Leapmotor B10 is a newer but well-received compact SUV, and my piece on whether it’s the best buy in its class is worth reading if you’re cross-shopping. The MG S5 rounds out the Chinese SUV options with MG’s established UK dealer network behind it.
Against all of these, the Aion V’s strongest card is the warranty. Eight years on both the vehicle and battery is longer than anything BYD, MG or Leapmotor currently offers in the UK, and it’s substantially ahead of the Volkswagen Group’s standard three-year cover. Whether that alone justifies choosing a brand with one UK dealer over rivals with national networks is a question each buyer will have to answer for themselves.
What to Make of the UK Launch
The 317-mile WLTP range is competitive for the class, and he eight-year vehicle and battery warranty removes one of the main objections buyers tend to raise about an unfamiliar brand. The unknowns are the ones that apply to any new entrant. The dealer network is currently one location in Slough. Parts availability and the after-sales experience will take time to establish. Jameel Motors has a track record in the UK with other brands, which reduces some of that uncertainty, but it’s reasonable to wait for early ownership feedback before drawing firm conclusions.
The Aion UT’s arrival later this year will be the more commercially significant moment. A compact hatchback with competitive range and the same strong warranty is likely to attract more buyers than a family SUV at £36,000, particularly if the European pricing translates reasonably to the UK market.
FAQ
What is the Aion V price in the UK?
The Aion V starts from £36,450 on the road in the UK. This includes VAT, first-year Vehicle Excise Duty, the registration fee, delivery and number plates. Final prices are confirmed at dealer level.
What is the range of the Aion V?
The Aion V is rated at 317 miles (510 km) on the WLTP cycle. Rapid charging takes the battery from 30 to 80% in 18 minutes.
What warranty does Aion offer in the UK?
Eight years or 100,000 miles for the vehicle, and eight years or 125,000 miles for the battery. Both are included as standard.
Where can you buy an Aion in the UK?
The flagship dealer is in Slough. Additional locations are listed at aionauto.co.uk. The network is expected to expand as the brand grows.
When is the Aion UT coming to the UK?
Confirmed for late 2026. UK pricing hasn’t been announced yet. On mainland Europe it starts from €27,990.
Does the Aion V have a five-star Euro NCAP rating?
Yes, the Aion V received a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating before its European launch.
Source: GAC Aion UK Official Webpage
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