GAC AION Y PLUS (CBU) launched at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 - New EV car priced from RM119,000 onwards

 

Yesterday, at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 in MAEPS, Serdang, WTC Automotif (M) Sdn Bhd (WTCA), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd, officially launched the 2024 GAC AION Y Plus all-electric compact crossover model for the Malaysian market. The All-New 2024 GAC AION Y Plus CBU (fully imported) is priced from RM119,800.00 onwards.

The latest compact EV crossover SUV entry in Malaysia has two variants available – ‘Elite’ and ‘Premium’ variants. The AION Y Plus uses GAC AION’s latest AEP 2.0 platform, which has a 63.2 kWh ‘magazine’ LFP battery packs capable of delivering up to 490 KM range (NEDC) - which could be around 400km real world mileage from our usual prediction based on what we've seen with EV cars sold here.

The AION Y features bold styling that’s complemented with a slew of the latest tech and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to be an ideal ‘Plus One’ that showcases the owner’s unique character and style. 

Check out the styling, especially the winged front headlight cluster which makes this compact SUV look quite distinctive compared to other EV SUVs in the market. Check out the bird shaped lights below. The SUV features lots of unique styling features aside from the lights, inside and out. In the hotly contested over RM100K to RM150K SUV segment, GAC hopes that this compact EV SUV will entice customers. Same as the newly launched GAC Emzoom petrol powered compact SUV for those who prefer a traditional engine up front.

It also has an estimated 8.5 second 0-100kmh time and packs a whole lot of equipment - including a panoramic roof as well as ADAS which is a norm for cars these days. The main draw for this urban runabout (this is what I think suits most EV cars) is its versatility and the price offered. For the space, equipment levels, range and the price of RM119k for the base variant, it could be good value for money in terms of its looks, size and specs (space inside seems good and the layout is versatile). This is what WTCA thinks is the factor that could entice Malaysian car buyers.

Of course, add the industry leading 8 years/ 160,000 KM base vehicle warranty, 8 Years/200,000 KM EV battery / Drive Motor / Electric Control warranty, this could be the EV to consider. Buy and drive such a vehicle for the duration of its warranty, and trade it in later.

You can view the AION Y PLUS at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 at MAEPS till 26th May 2024. There are quite good early bird offers for the car also aside from the warranty packages.

PRESS RELEASE and full specifications is down below. All photos herein are on the AION Y PLUS variant only

WTCA charges up Malaysia Autoshow 2024 With GAC AION Y Plus Debut – Your new plus one

MAEPS, Serdang: WTC Automotif (M) Sdn Bhd (WTCA), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Bhd, sole distributor of the GAC AION electric vehicles (EVs) brand since January this year, officially launched the 2024 GAC AION Y Plus all-electric crossover model in Malaysia.

Available in ‘Elite’ and ‘Premium’ variants, the company’s debut EV was introduced during Press Day of the Malaysia Autoshow 2024 organised by the Malaysia Automotive Robotics & loT Institute ( MARii ) at MAEPS, Serdang. The GAC AION Y Plus is poised to offer budding Malaysian EV buyers with a slightly different twist to the growing premium EV crossover genre by being the ideal plus one. That’s because the GAC AION Y Plus is more than just a car, it’s the ideal companion to showcase the unique character and style of its owner. 

Both were launched with highly accessible price tags of RM119,800.00 (Elite) and RM135,800.00(Premium).

For the Malaysian market, the GAC AION Y Plus is available across seven vibrant exterior colour options plus five exciting interior colourway choices. Altogether, this grants 35 combinations in total for customers to choose from.

Especially for the GAC AION Y Plus model, WTCA will include a comprehensive warranty and after-sales package that promises to make this crossover SUV the ideal plus one for anyone. Included are:

• 8 Years/160,000 KM base vehicle warranty

• 8 Years/200,000 KM EV battery, Drive Motor and Electric Control warranty

In conjunction with its official launch at the Malaysia Autoshow 2024, WTCA also devised a tempting exclusive early bird offer for the first 200 bookings of the GAC AION Y Plus. These early adopters will be rewarded with:

• Free 7kW Home Wallbox Charger (worth RM3,500)

• RM1,000 Free JomCharge Charging Credits

Part of these rewards were borne out of new partnerships forged by WTCA with EV Connection Sdn Bhd (“EVC”) – Malaysia’s leading EV Charging Company with an integrated portfolio of hardware supply, installation, operations, and maintenance. EVC is the largest EV charging network provider with over 1,000 chargers nationwide – together with their roaming partners Gentari and ChargEV. EVC is also the first CPO in Malaysia to implement the All New Autocharge Feature and GAC AION Y Plus customers will be among the first to have the privilege to enjoy such a premium feature. These collaborations were aimed at enhancing access to vehicle charging for customers and, at the same time, provide them with confidence and a seamless charging experience as well.  

Additionally, while stocks last, early adopters will also get to choose from two specially curated accessories packages for their purchase of the GAC AION Y Plus. Amongst them are:

• Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Set

A complete set of GAC AION-branded camping set and V2L Cable (for the usage of Premium variant only). This serves as a starter pack for customers with active lifestyles to enjoy an enhanced outdoor experience with an EV.

• “Me-Time” Mobile Theatre Set

GAC AION in-car movie theatre set allows you and your loved one to indulge in a matinee in the spacious comforts of the GAC AION Y Plus powered by its versatile and innovative seat arrangements matched with a comfortable and cooling ambience.

As for deliveries, WTCA will begin delivering the GAC AION Y Plus Elite variant starting June 2024. Deliveries of the higher-end Premium variant will commence from July 2024 onwards. 

The arrival of the GAC AION Y Plus on local soil is the latest milestone for WTCA following the official launch of its GAC GS3 EMZOOM premium compact crossover in April this year. This is yet another fruit arising out of the close collaboration between WTCA and GAC Group as both continue to grow the GAC AION EV brand’s presence in Malaysia. 

Prior to its official launch, WTCA had already previewed the GAC AION Y Plus in January this year. Speaking in his keynote address at the GAC AION Y Plus launch event, Warisan TC Holdings Bhd Chief Executive Officer Tan Keng Meng again noted the highly positive reception towards the GAC brand amongst Malaysian consumers as a key catalyst for the company.

“We are confident that the specification and package that we have put together for the all new GAC AION Y Plus will meet the expectation of the discerning urbanite and for those seeking the ideal “plus one” will find the All new GAC AION Y Plus very enticing and exciting,” adds Tan.

Also present at the official launch of the GAC AION Y Plus was Ma Haiyang, General Manager of Southeast Asia, GAC AION New Energy Automobile Co. Ltd. “The new GAC AION Y Plus is an EV built to showcase your unique character, and one designed to effortlessly lead a trend. We are also pleased with our collaboration with both WTCA and the Tan Chong Group, and we are confident that they will help grow the GAC AION brand further in Malaysia,” expressed Ma at the launch.

For its exterior design, the GAC AION Y Plus merges both trendy SUV elements with a dash of high-tech intelligence. Key design touches include Angel Wing LED headlights, Skyline through-type LED taillights, powered stow-away door handles, a panoramic sunroof present across both variants, as well as stylish 17-inch (Elite) and 18-inch (Premium) alloy wheels design.

Underpinning the AEP 2.0 dedicated EV platform, said construct also houses GAC’s innovative 63.2 kWh Magazine Battery 2.0. With each full charge, this lithium iron phosphate (LFP) type battery is capable at delivering up to 490 KM (NEDC) of driving range. As for charging, the both 6.6 KW AC (Type 2) and up to 80 kW DC fast-charging (CCS2) inputs are accepted. 

The ‘Magazine Battery 2.0’, in addition to being energy dense, sees its construction and housing stand as one of the world’s safest designs for energy stores as such. Part of its development saw the design being subjected to rigorous tests, including a shooting experiment using high-calibre, military-grade ballistics. In the said exercise, the battery was pierced through, but it did not explode or catch fire, highlighting its unique and safe design.

Both the Elite and Premium variants share the same front-mounted e-motor rated at 150 kW (204 PS) and 225 NM that drive the front wheels. This setup grants the GAC AION Y Plus with respectably zippy performance as demonstrated by its 0-100 KM/H acceleration time of 8.5 seconds. Crucially, the e-motor is also endowed with class-leading versatility thanks to the offer of up to four selectable driving modes that also includes an ‘i-Pedal’ single-pedal driving mode.

On board, the GAC AION Y Plus offers both drivers and passengers not just a class-leading spacious cabin, it is also richly brimmed with upmarket amenities and features to suit almost any urban lifestyle needs. Key highlights include a six-way power-adjustable driver seat, 10.25-inch digital instrumentation, keyless entry, automatic climate control with dedicated rear vents plus built-in PM2.5 air filter, and a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment offering various connectivity functions on top of Apple CarPlay function.

Exclusively primed in the Premium variant are notable additions such as driver seat ventilation, power-adjustable front passenger seat, wireless smartphone charging pad, as well as a 32-colour Ambient lighting suite with music mode. As for practicality, split-folding rear seats enables boot space expansion from 405 litres up to a maximum of 1,200 litres, and the Premium variant adds convenient access to which via a hands-free powered tailgate.

Like its style and tech, safety is also kept at a high level in the GAC AION Y Plus. At the core of which are the presence of six airbags lining the cabin, along with anti-lock braking system (ABS), Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), Hill-Hold Control (HHC), 360-degree View Monitor, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), all primed as standard across both variants.

Exclusively equipped in the Premium variant are a barrage of Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) features that enable Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. Included here are Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go function and Intelligent Cruise Assist, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane-Departure Warning (LDW) with Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA), as well as Traffic Jam Assist (TJA).

Both WTCA and GAC AION acknowledged the importance of an after-sales infrastructure network to better support its customers. Ahead of today’s launch, the firm spent the last four months establishing its network of 21 new showrooms and service centres nationwide, and more are set to become operational within this year.

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Media Info Sheet

2024 GAC AION Y Plus

DIMENSIONS

Length: 4,535mm

Width: 1,870mm

Height: 1,650mm

Wheelbase: 2,750mm

Trunk Capacity: 405L (expandable to 1,200L)

Kerb Weight: 1,695kg (Elite)/1,750kg (Premium)

EV PLATOFRM & BATTERY

Architecture: AEP 2.0

Voltage: 292.5 – 427.05 volts

Battery Technology: Magazine Battery 2.0

Battery Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate

Capacity: 63.2kWh

AC Charging: 6.6kW (Type 2)

DC Charging: 80kW (CCS2)

DRIVETRAIN

E-Motor Type: Permanent magnet synchronous motor

Power: 150kW (204PS)

Torque: 225NM

Driveline: Front-Wheel-Drive (FWD)

Drive Modes: i-Pedal/Eco/Normal/Sport

PERFORMANCE

0-100KM/H: 8.5 seconds

Max. Range: 490 KM (NEDC Cycle)

CHASSIS

Steering: Electric Power Steering

Suspension (Front): Independent MacPherson Strut Assembly

Suspension (Rear): Torsion Beam Assembly

Brakes (Front): Ventilated Discs

Brakes (Rear): Solid Discs

Wheels & Tyres: 215/55 R17 (Elite)/215/50 R18 (Premium)

Spare Wheel: Space-saver

STYLING

Angel Wing LED Headlight

Skyline through-type LED taillights

Powered stow-away door handles

Panoramic sunroof

Roof rails

Power-adjustable, heated and foldable wing mirrors

ENTERTAINMENT & COMFORT

14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display

10.25-inch digital instrument panel

Bluetooth, (wired) Apple CarPlay

6-speaker Bongiovi hi-fi audio

360-degree surround view monitor

Front & Rear USB ports

Automatic climate control with rear vents& PM2.5 air filter

6-way power-adjustable driver seat

Driver seat ventilation (Premium)

Qi wireless charging pad (Premium)

IBCM senseless start

IBCM easy entry and exit

32-colour ambient lighting

SAFETY

Dual front airbags

Dual front side airbags

Side curtain airbags

Hill Hold Control

Electronic Parking Brake with Auto-hold

Electronic Stability Program (ESP)

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

ISOFIX child seat anchors

ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS (ADAS) (Premium only)

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go (ACC)

Intelligent Cruise Assist (ICA)

Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)

Forward Collision Warning (FCW)

Traffic Jam Assist

Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

Lane-Keeping Assist (LKA)