AION to launch to UK retailers with trade debut at Automotive Management Live
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Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand AION will make its UK trade debut at Automotive Management Live, where it will showcase three of its AION V electric SUV models, as well as its plans for its UK dealer network.
The UK’s leading automotive retail and exhibition conference is being held at the NEC, Birmingham, on November 12 and is free to attend for franchised and independent dealers.
AION is part of GAC Group, China’s fourth-largest plug-in car manufacturer and a brand that has joint ventures with Honda and Toyota and representation in 85 global markets.
The brand’s UK launch is being prepared for Q1 next year as part of a distribution joint venture with Jameel Motors.
AION’s UK operation is led by a British management team, headed by managing director Jon Wakefield, who is well known in the UK automotive industry after leading Volvo in the UK, Sweden and Western Europe, has held senior positions at Porsche and Bentley, while his most recent role was as chief executive at dealer group Harwoods.
One of AION Auto UK’s first hires is Duncan Johnston, who recently joined as the new brand’s network development director.
Johnston has held senior retail network development roles - in the UK and European level - at Honda, Lotus and Inchcape.
Johnston explains: "AION’s ambition is to create a strong dealer network to support sales, service and customer experience, combining the scale of GAC’s global manufacturing with local retail expertise.
"We’re supporting Automotive Management Live as the premier event in the UK automotive retail calendar to showcase the brand and the AION V for the first time, and we’re excited to share more details about our approach, product roadmap and network rollout plans with delegates at the show."
Discover the AION V at Automotive Management LiveAION will lead its UK launch with the all-electric AION V SUV, closely followed by the AION UT hatchback.
Both are designed at GAC’s international design studios in Milan, Los Angeles, Guangzhou and Shanghai, with the European Design Centre led by former Renault designer Stéphane Janin.
The Euro NCAP five star rated AION V has a provisional range of 317 miles and a focus on interior comfort and practicality.
There will be three AION Vs at the show, two on AION’s stand opposite the AM100 lounge, with another V located in the Dealer Workspace.
This area of the show, made possible with support from AION Auto, gives dealers a base to meet colleagues, compare notes with peers, or take a breather from the bustling show floor.
AM Showroom Spotlight, sponsored by AIONDelegates attending the show will be able to step into an AION showroom for the first time with an exclusive preview of how the brand proposes its retail partners set up their retail space.
AION’s new showroom and display concept, which is being kept under wraps until the day of the show, will be replicated at the event.
The stand design has been created to demonstrate exactly how the AION brand will be presented in UK showrooms.
Johnston said: “What dealers will see at the NEC is precisely what they can expect in their own showrooms.
“It allows retailers to understand our approach to quality, consistency and brand presentation as we ramp up our plans to partner with experienced retailers ahead of our launch next year.”