GA8 slated as milestone, for China's self-developed cars

GAC Motor, a division of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, will soon unveil the GA8, its new high-end C-class business sedan, according to the company.

"The unveiling of the GA8 will be a milestone for China's self-developed cars, showing the country is capable of research and development of high-end vehicles," said Wu Song, general manager of GAC Motor.

The launch of the GA8 will change the Chinese car market, which has long been dominated by foreign-invested and joint-venture brands, Wu said.

"Chinese homegrown brands will play a leading role in the domestic market in the near future as they have good design and quality," said Wu.

According to Wu, the company has made a big invest ment in the GA8 and it has been in preparation for five years.

The GA8 follows the unveiling of the 235T GS4 and GA6, which feature the company's Ti-power technologies.

Prior to its official debut in mid-April, 40 units of the GA8 were put into use for the Second G20 Sherpa Meeting, which was held in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, on April 7.

Also, a number of the GA8 vehicles were on the road in Beijing during the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March.

"Being part of these important domestic and international occasions is a sign of the improved image of Chinese homegrown vehicles," Wu said.

With an investment of over 10 billion yuan ($1.55 billion), GAC Motor has built a world-class manufacturing plant and technical center, that have laid a solid foundation for the company's research and development into high-end vehicles, according to Wu.

GAC Motors plans to unveil the GS8, a seven-seat SUV, in September, and the MPV GM8 later this year.

(China Daily 04/12/2016 page16)