TANGERANG, Indonesia — GAC Indonesia recorded 2,170 vehicle orders at the 2026 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, with the larger AION V electric SUV accounting for more than half of the total and the smaller AION UT urban hatchback providing most of the remainder. The results offer a snapshot of where GAC sees Indonesia’s electric-vehicle market heading. While the AION UT is aimed at urban buyers looking for a smaller battery-electric vehicle, the AION V has attracted substantially more interest, suggesting that Indonesian EV buyers are increasingly looking for the space, range and equipment associated with conventional family SUVs. GAC Indonesia said the AION V generated 1,122 orders during GIIAS, followed by 711 for the AION UT and 166 for the premium HYPTEC HT. The company also recorded 1,642 test drives during the show, with the AION V the most tested model. The company displayed its full battery-electric lineup at GIIAS, including the AION UT, AION Y Plus, AION V and HYPTEC HT. But the more significant story was how GAC described the development of the AION V and the updates made to the AION UT: both are being adapted around information gathered from customers rather than treated as fixed products developed solely for a global market. GAC calls the approach “Listening First.” Sean Xiong, product director for the AION V, said the development process began with understanding how people use their vehicles. “For us, listening is the starting point for every great design,” Xiong said. “We don’t begin by asking what features can be added, but how people live, travel and what they really need from a vehicle. That philosophy shaped every aspect of the AION V, from its design and cabin experience to its technology and safety.” GAC said research and customer feedback from several countries identified quality, technology and safety as three of the most important elements of the driving experience. Those findings were then incorporated into the AION V’s engineering and design. The SUV was developed through GAC’s design studios in Los Angeles, Milan and Shanghai, while its development incorporated feedback from users in different markets. In Indonesia, customer input focused on areas including cabin comfort, interior space, perceived quality, smart features and ease of use. That process is reflected in the AION V’s emphasis on cabin space and long-distance use. GAC describes its interior architecture as an “Urban Zero-Pressure Suspension Cabin,” with flexible seating, storage space and technology interfaces designed around everyday use. Safety was incorporated into the development process alongside the vehicle’s comfort and technology. GAC said the AION V combines a high-strength body structure, battery protection, driver ergonomics and visibility with active and passive safety systems. The model has received five-star ratings from both ANCAP and Euro NCAP. At GIIAS, the AION V was offered in Indonesia at prices of about $30,800 for the Exclusive version and $34,600 for the Luxury version, based on regular prices of 499 million and 560 million Indonesian rupiah. Promotional prices during the show reduced those figures to about $28,300 and $29,600, respectively. The AION UT represents the other side of GAC’s Indonesian EV strategy. The five-door hatchback is built on GAC’s AEP 3.0 electric platform and uses a 47.1-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate Magazine Battery. Its front-mounted electric motor produces 100 kilowatts and 145 Nm of torque, while claimed range is up to 400 kilometers. DC fast charging takes the battery from 30% to 80% in 24 minutes. For GIIAS, GAC presented an updated UT following feedback from Indonesian customers. The company retained the European-influenced design developed by Stephan Janin but modified aspects of the vehicle to better match local preferences. The Indonesian UT is priced at about $21,300 for the Standard version and $24,400 for the Premium version, based on prices of 345 million and 395 million rupiah. GAC Indonesia CEO Andry Ciu said the changes illustrate how the company is using customer feedback in product development. “GIIAS 2026 is an important moment for GAC Indonesia to show how every innovation starts with trust built together with customers and is realized through product development based on real consumer needs,” Ciu said. “The AION UT updates are the result of various customer feedback since the model was introduced in Indonesia.” The UT is also becoming an important model for GAC in Indonesia’s growing medium-hatchback EV segment. GAC said the model recorded the highest wholesales in that segment in May and June, with 121 units delivered in June based on Gaikindo data. Its listed Jakarta price later fell to 325 million rupiah, or about $20,100, for the Standard version and 375 million rupiah, or about $23,200, for the Premium version. The GIIAS results indicate that the UT’s role is not limited to being GAC’s entry-level electric vehicle. Its 711 orders placed it second in the company’s sales ranking during the show, while the AION V’s 1,122 orders show that demand is also developing for larger electric vehicles. The rest of the lineup fills out that range. The AION Y Plus was priced at about $25,900 to $29,600, while the HYPTEC HT was listed at about $46,600. The AION Y Plus is positioned as a larger family-oriented EV, while the HYPTEC HT sits at the premium end of GAC’s battery-electric range. GAC’s results also point to an important shift in how Chinese EV manufacturers are approaching Southeast Asia. Rather than simply exporting vehicles developed for China, manufacturers are increasingly collecting market-specific information and making adjustments for local conditions, preferences and regulations. Indonesia is particularly important because it is both one of Southeast Asia’s largest automotive markets and a major target for EV manufacturing. GAC’s Indonesian operation is backed by Indomobil Group, while the company’s broader regional strategy includes markets using both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive vehicles. The Philippines is one of the markets where that distinction matters. GAC has shifted its Philippine operation to a direct subsidiary and has been expanding its AION range there, including the UT. The model was introduced in the Philippines at a suggested retail price of P1.068 million, with an introductory price of P998,000, placing it in the growing market for relatively affordable electric hatchbacks. The Philippine market is at an earlier stage of EV adoption than Indonesia, but the product strategy is increasingly similar: smaller battery-electric vehicles for urban use alongside larger electric SUVs aimed at families and longer-distance travel. That gives GAC’s customer-feedback approach a practical regional purpose. Changes made in Indonesia can inform vehicles sold elsewhere in Southeast Asia, while the company can use different markets to identify which features and vehicle configurations translate across the region. The GIIAS results suggest that the strategy is gaining traction, at least in terms of consumer interest. Of the 2,170 orders recorded by GAC, the AION V and AION UT together accounted for 1,833, or about 84% of the total. Ciu said the high proportion of orders for the better-equipped Premium and Luxury versions was significant because it showed that buyers were considering factors beyond basic efficiency. “The 2,170 orders at GIIAS 2026 show that public trust in GAC Indonesia continues to grow,” Ciu said. “What is increasingly interesting for us is the high interest in the Premium and Luxury variants. This shows that Indonesian consumers are no longer looking only for efficient electrified vehicles, but also want comfort, technology, performance and a more premium driving experience.” That distinction matters for the region’s transition to electric mobility. Lower-priced EVs can broaden access to battery-electric transportation, but the market also needs vehicles capable of replacing the larger gasoline-powered SUVs and family vehicles that dominate Southeast Asian roads. GAC’s GIIAS lineup addresses both ends of that market. The AION UT targets urban mobility with a smaller battery and hatchback footprint, while the AION V demonstrates how an electric SUV can be developed around family use, comfort and long-distance travel. The company’s 2,170 orders are not evidence by themselves of sustained EV adoption. They are showroom orders during a major auto exhibition. But combined with the company’s continuing sales of the UT and the strong interest in the AION V, they provide a useful indication that Indonesian consumers are considering a wider range of electric vehicles. More importantly, GAC is using that consumer response as part of the product-development process. For a Southeast Asian EV market still developing its charging infrastructure, regulations and consumer expectations, that feedback loop may be as important as the vehicles themselves.
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