Who is AION? Everything you need to know about the electric car brand

There’s a growing number of new car brands arriving in the UK, and many of them are coming from China. From BYD to Omoda, these manufacturers are bringing more choice, more technology and some seriously impressive electric cars to UK roads.

One of the latest names to know is AION.

AION might be new to the UK, but the experience behind it certainly isn’t. Backed by GAC Group, AION combines around 70 years of car-making expertise with a business built specifically around electrified cars.

And it’s already achieved some impressive milestones. AION builds more than 200,000 electric cars each year, has achieved nine consecutive first-place JD Power awards for quality and became the fastest car brand to reach one million sales in China.

So, what’s behind AION, which cars does it offer, and could it be one of the next big electric car brands in the UK?

Who is AION?

AION is an electrified car brand from GAC Group, one of China’s major automotive manufacturers.

While the AION name itself is relatively young, GAC’s automotive expertise stretches back around 70 years. The group has extensive experience in car manufacturing and has worked through joint ventures with some of the world’s best-known manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda.

AION was launched in 2017 as GAC’s dedicated new energy vehicle brand before becoming an independent operation focused on intelligent, high-quality electrified cars.

And that’s an important part of the AION story.

Rather than being an established petrol and diesel manufacturer adapting its existing range for the electric era, AION has been focused on electrification from the beginning. Its factories, technology and cars have all been developed with electrified driving at their heart.

A brand built around electric

AION’s dedicated approach to electrification is one of the things that makes it particularly interesting.

The manufacturer has invested in dedicated smart factories, bringing together advanced manufacturing technology, automation and quality control to produce more than 200,000 electric cars each year.

Its approach goes beyond simply fitting a battery and electric motor into a car, too. AION has developed a fully integrated electric system, bringing together key EV technologies as part of one complete platform.

It’s an approach that’s helped AION grow quickly. In fact, the manufacturer became the fastest car brand to reach one million sales in China.

That scale matters. While UK drivers may be seeing the badge for the first time, AION already has considerable experience building electric cars and getting them onto the road.

What makes AION different from other Chinese car manufacturers?

Chinese manufacturers have become a major force in the global car industry, particularly when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs). So, understandably, you might be wondering what makes another new name different.

For AION, one of the biggest differences is its electric-first approach.

AION wasn’t created as another model range within a manufacturer primarily focused on petrol and diesel cars. It launched as a dedicated electrified brand and later became an independent operation within GAC, with a clear focus on intelligent, high-quality electric vehicles.

That means electrification isn’t simply one part of what AION does. It’s central to the brand.

There’s also significant experience behind it. AION combines the agility of a newer EV brand with around 70 years of automotive expertise from the wider GAC Group.

Quality has been another major focus, with AION achieving first place for quality in JD Power studies for nine consecutive years.

Put those things together and AION arrives in the UK as a relatively unfamiliar badge, but not an inexperienced manufacturer.

Setting a new standard in the UK

Launching a car in China and bringing the same models straight to Britain aren’t quite the same thing. Our roads, driving habits and expectations can be very different.

AION says it’s taken that into account.

Its UK operation is guided by an experienced British leadership team, with cars adapted specifically for UK roads and everyday driving habits.

There’s infrastructure behind the cars, too. AION is establishing UK customer support and a UK-based parts hub, helping give drivers reassurance that support is available after they’ve chosen their car.

It’s an important part of establishing any new manufacturer in the UK. A great electric car is one thing; making the whole experience simple and reassuring for drivers is just as important.

Which AION cars are available in the UK?

AION is beginning its UK journey with two fully electric models, giving drivers a choice between a practical SUV and a more compact hatchback.

AION V

The AION V is a family-friendly electric SUV, combining a spacious interior with plenty of technology and an electric range designed to make longer journeys easy.

With up to 317 miles of WLTP range, it’s aimed at drivers who want the space and practicality of an SUV without giving up the benefits of electric driving.

Inside, there’s a large 14.6-inch central touchscreen alongside plenty of room for passengers, making the V a practical option for everything from the school run to longer motorway journeys.

It enters a busy part of the EV market, alongside cars including the Volkswagen ID.4, Kia EV3, Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7.

AION UT

At the smaller end of the range is the AION UT, a compact electric hatchback.

Its smaller dimensions make it well suited to urban driving, while clever packaging means there’s still plenty of usable interior space.

For drivers who don’t need a larger SUV but still want the technology and simplicity of an electric car, the UT could be an interesting addition to the growing choice of compact EVs available in the UK.

Five-star safety as standard

Technology is a big part of AION’s proposition, but some of its most useful technology is there to help keep drivers, passengers and other road users safe.

Both UK AION models achieved the maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2025.

They’re equipped with seven passenger airbags alongside a range of advanced driver assistance and safety systems as standard.

These include:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Cyclist dooring prevention
• Driver fatigue detection
• Lane assistance systems
• Autonomous emergency braking with vulnerable road-user detection
• A 360-degree camera system

But the useful bit isn’t necessarily the number of systems or sensors. It’s what they can do during everyday driving.

AION has designed its safety technology around situations drivers regularly face – whether that’s checking what’s around the car while manoeuvring into a tight parking space, spotting another vehicle sitting in a blind spot or helping alert you to a cyclist before you open the door.

It’s clever technology designed to make every day driving feel that little bit easier and more reassuring.

Is AION a reliable car brand?

Reliability is understandably one of the biggest questions drivers have when a new manufacturer arrives in the UK.

Although AION itself is a relatively young brand, there’s plenty of experience behind it. GAC brings around 70 years of car manufacturing expertise, while AION now produces more than 200,000 electric cars each year through its dedicated smart factories.

Its quality record is impressive too, with nine consecutive JD Power first-place awards for quality.

Then there’s its safety performance. Both the AION V and AION UT achieved five stars from Euro NCAP in 2025, adding another independent measure of how the cars perform.

Together with UK-based customer support and parts infrastructure, there’s a lot behind the unfamiliar badge.

Should AION be on your EV shortlist?

There’s never been more choice for drivers thinking about switching to electric, and that’s great news.

AION is entering a competitive market, but it has some interesting credentials. It’s backed by decades of automotive expertise, builds electric cars at significant scale and, perhaps most importantly, was created with electrification at its heart.

That last point is what we think makes AION particularly interesting.

Rather than transitioning towards electric cars, AION started there. From its dedicated smart factories and integrated electric technology to the cars themselves, the brand has been developed around an electrified future from the beginning.

Add five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings for both of its UK models, a growing UK support network and two very different electric cars to choose from, and AION is certainly a name worth remembering.

For UK drivers, it means something simple: even more choice when it’s time to choose your next electric car.

Remember to keep an eye on our build your car and stock pages for new arrivals like the AION electric cars.

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The content, data and reviews in this article is accurate as of August 2026