After announcing its imminent launch earlier this week, GAC International Philippines has officially launched its smallest and most affordable EV yet. Say hello to the 2026 GAC AION UT, which combines a bargain price, sleek & stylish looks, plenty of features, and a range of up to 400 km.

Starting with its design, the AION UT features what GAC calls Milanese Aesthetics. It combines a sleek and expressive design philosophy, which appears to have been inspired by chic European hatchbacks. The front fascia is dominated by eye-catching LED light signatures and owl-like LED headlights. It is then complemented by cube-shaped lighting elements that serve as foglights, as well as turn signals.

The rest of the exterior sees the AION UT featuring prominent wheel arches, stylish 16-inch alloy wheels, distinct LED taillights, a large tailgate, and a tailgate spoiler. The AION UT is also available in five colors: Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, and a two-tone combination of Rococo White + Emerald Green.

At the heart of the AION UT is GAC's Magazine Battery, which has a capacity of 44.12 kWh. On a full charge, GAC says the electric hatchback can do up to 400 km, based on the NEDC cycle. It also supports 6.6 kW AC charging and fast 64 kW DC charging. In fact, recharging the battery from 30% to 80% via DC can be done in just 24 minutes. It also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) with up to 3.3 kW of power and has regenerative braking to eke out more range while on the go.

Thanks to the lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, GAC says it has a lifespan of up to 1.5 million kilometers or 15 years. Moreover, the battery has bullet penetration protection, is liquid-cooled, and has a low-temperature heating function to keep it at optimal temperatures.

Last but not least, the AION UT has a single electric motor that drives the front wheels and makes 100 kW or 136 PS with 145 Nm of torque. It has three drive modes available, which include Comfort, Power, and Power Save.

Inside, the AION UT features a minimalist cabin that focuses on cabin comfort, high-tech features, and ample space for both passengers & cargo. With a 2750mm wheelbase, the electric hatchback has spacious seating for five and more than enough space in the very back for luggage. In fact, GAC says that with the rear seats up, the tiny EV can carry up to 440 liters worth of cargo.

All variants of the AION UT come with fabric seats, ambient lighting, a digital 8.8-inch instrument panel, and a massive 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, a 12V power socket, an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot, online navigation, a smartphone app to remotely control certain functions, and USB charging ports for the front and rear passengers.

Other in-car features available in the AION UT EV are intelligent voice control, a 360-degree camera system, a reverse camera, front & rear parking sensors, a host of airbags, hill-start assist, traction control, vehicle stability control, and ISOFIX child seat anchors. For extra peace of mind, the AION UT has advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), which include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, blind-spot detection, and rear-cross traffic alert.

The GAC AION UT is covered by an 8-year/160,000 km comprehensive warranty, as well as an 8-year/200,000 km warranty for the battery and motor.

The first 400 customers who will purchase the GAC AION UT can get it at a special introductory price of PHP 998,000, which is PHP 70,000 less than the regular suggested retail price.