One of China’s largest car manufacturers is expanding further into the Nordic market. Guangzhou Automobile Group, better known as GAC, has signed an agreement with Norwegian company Electric Way to import and distribute its cars in both Norway and Denmark.
The first model to arrive will be the fully electric GAC AION UT, a compact hatchback developed specifically with European customers in mind. The first cars are expected to reach the Norwegian and Danish markets as early as September 2026.
Electric Way is part of the Sulland Group and already has extensive experience within the automotive industry in Norway. The company says GAC’s European strategy was one of the key reasons for choosing the Chinese manufacturer.
“GAC is one of the world’s largest car manufacturers, but what has been most important for us is the company’s strategy for Europe,” says Torje A. Sulland, CEO of Electric Way.
GAC has invested heavily in European design, local production, parts logistics and its own European organisation.
Designed for Europe
GAC is entering Europe with a strategy it calls “In Europe, for Europe.” (a motto that reminds to Volkswagen’s strategy for China, In China, for China). The company has established its European headquarters in Amsterdam, while a central spare-parts distribution centre is located in Rotterdam. GAC also operates a dedicated European design studio in Milan.
Production for the European market is already taking place in Graz, Austria, where GAC works together with Magna Steyr. The same factory is used to produce vehicles for several established European premium manufacturers, like Mercedes’ G-Class.
GAC is also building up a sales and service network across Europe as it prepares for a larger expansion into the market. According to GAC Europe president David Zhang, Europe is one of the company’s most important growth markets.
“Electric Way is the right partner to establish GAC in Norway and Denmark,” says Zhang. “Together, we will offer cars designed for Europe, produced in Europe and supported by a strong local organisation.”
The AION UT will arrive first
The first GAC model heading to Norway and Denmark will be the AION UT.
It is a fully electric compact hatchback developed specifically for European customers. GAC has yet to reveal full pricing and specifications, but the model will be the first step in establishing the AION brand in the two Nordic markets.
The first vehicles are expected to arrive as early as mid-September 2026. The AION UT is also expected to be just the beginning. GAC has a growing range of electric and electrified models and is preparing a wider European product offensive.
Up to eight-year warranty
One of GAC’s biggest selling points in Europe will be its warranty programme.
The manufacturer will offer an eight-year or 160,000km factory warranty, while the battery will be covered for up to eight years or 200,000km.
GAC also says that all of its models are developed to meet the highest safety standards, with the aim of achieving five-star ratings in Euro NCAP crash testing.
For a new Chinese brand entering the Nordic market, warranty coverage and safety will be particularly important as GAC attempts to build consumer confidence against established European, Japanese and Korean manufacturers.
Dealer network already being built
Electric Way has already started establishing a dealer network in both Norway and Denmark. Several nationwide dealer agreements are reportedly in the final stages of negotiations.
The company believes GAC could offer dealers an attractive opportunity at a time when the Nordic car market is becoming increasingly competitive.
“GAC comes with modern products, a well-developed European strategy and a concept that offers good opportunities for profitable operations,” says Torje A. Sulland. For Scandinavian buyers, the arrival of GAC will add yet another Chinese manufacturer to an already rapidly expanding market. Brands such as BYD, MG, Xpeng, Zeekr and several newer manufacturers are already competing for customers across Scandinavia.
GAC will now attempt to establish itself alongside them.
One of China’s biggest car manufacturers
GAC was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China. The company says it has produced more than 30 million vehicles and has been included in the Fortune Global 500 for 14 consecutive years.
The group invests heavily in research and development and is increasingly developing vehicles specifically for the European market.
GAC also has decades of manufacturing and development partnerships with major global manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda.
With the AION UT arriving in Norway and Denmark as early as September, GAC’s Nordic expansion is now moving from plans to reality. We drove the AION UT and the bigger AION V last year in Germany for a small preview. The cars seem like something that would fit the European buyers very well.
