The GAC AION UT has achieved a prestigious 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) under its stringent 2026 testing protocols, emerging as one of the first mass-produced Chinese-brand electric models to clear the revised, stricter European assessment standards.
For the Philippine market, this global accolade arrives alongside an introductory price tag of ₱998,000 (discounted from its P1,068,000 suggested retail price until Sept. 30, 2026), demonstrating that class-leading structural integrity, intelligent crash avoidance, and spacious interior packaging no longer require a luxury premium.
Euro NCAP evaluated the compact electric hatchback across four core assessment categories, where it demonstrated balanced structural and active protection: Crash protection, 91%; post-crash safety, 88%; crash avoidance, 74%; and safe driving, 66%.
‘Dragon-Bone’ meets ‘Big Car Energy’
The AION UT’s structural performance is anchored on GAC’s proprietary “Dragon-Bone Embraced Body Structure,” in which high-strength steel constitutes 71% of the frame. Key structural highlights include:
o A one-piece hot-stamped dual-ring passenger safety cell;
o An extra-wide 180-mm crash box designed to channel frontal impact energy away from the cabin;
o A reinforced roof structure capable of supporting up to 8 tons of compressive load.
Despite its agile hatchback footprint, the interior is configured with GAC’s signature “Big Car Energy” layout, pairing spacious rear legroom with comprehensive passive restraint protection. The cabin incorporates an advanced 7-airbag system, featuring a 2.1-meter V-side curtain airbag and a front far-side center airbag that prevents head-to-head contact between front occupants during severe side impacts.
Active driver-assist and accident prevention
Beyond physical impact resistance, the AION UT comes equipped with active safety systems designed to prevent collisions before they happen, including:
o Autonomous emergency braking (AEB): Outperforms regulatory baselines across pedestrian, cyclist, and vehicle crossing scenarios;
o Vulnerable road user protection: Incorporates cyclist dooring prevention to alert exiting occupants, alongside an intelligent child presence detection (CPD) system.
GAC Philippines general manager Calvin Cheng said: “Earning the Euro NCAP Five-Star Safety Certification represents the ultimate endorsement from an authoritative international body for the AION UT’s uncompromised safety engineering. More than just an award, this milestone is a testament to our deep passion and commitment to empower and modernize mobility for Filipinos, bringing world-class safety and cutting-edge electric innovation right to local streets.”
Pricing, variants, and warranty
Powered by a 100-kW front-wheel-drive electric motor, the AION UT Elite is offered in 6 exterior finishes: Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, Twilight Lavender, and an optional two-tone (Rococo White + Emerald Green), all matched to an all-black interior.
The model is backed by GAC Philippines’ network of 30 dealerships nationwide, offering basic vehicle warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km, traction battery and drive unit warranty of 8 years or 200,000 km, and two years of complimentary 24/7 roadside assistance.
Reserve units at authorized GAC dealerships, test drive via gacgroup.com/en-ph/test-drive, or follow @gacmotorph on Facebook and Instagram.