GAC’s 2025 Aion V: Affordable Electric SUV

Learn how the new 2025 Aion V is disrupting Thailand’s, Indonesia’s, Singapore’s, and Southeast Asia’s EV landscape with great range, luxury build, cutting-edge safety, and irresistible prices.

The Backstory: How China’s GAC Aion is Stealthily Creating an EV Empire

If you’ve been anywhere close to an auto show recently, you know China’s electric vehicle booming in world map. GAC Aion, a subsidiary brand of Guangzhou Automobile Group, started in 2017 with a definitive purpose: make electric cars mainstream — not only in China but anywhere roads are huming.

Back in 2019, the first Aion V appeared as a budget, family-friendly compact SUV. Roll forward to 2025 and GAC Aion isn’t resting on its laurels. Southeast Asia’s increasing fuel prices, urban traffic congestion, and new EV subsidies have made the region into top hunting territory for cheap electric mobility — and the Aion V is driving into local driveways just when it matters most.

So why is this Chinese upstart a force to be reckoned with in Bangkok, Jakarta, and elsewhere? Let’s dissect the 2025 Aion V’s real-world charm.

Interior and Build: A Premium Surprise at a Budget-Friendly Price

Within the Aion V, there’s a cabin that’s more upscale than the price tag. GAC Aion understands that Southeast Asian customers — from Bangkok’s city families to Jakarta’s young urbanites — are concerned about maximizing value per baht or rupiah.

Build Quality:

Door and dashboard soft-touch surfaces, rare for this segment.

Heated, ventilated, and massaging premium leatherette or vegan leather seats in upper trims.

Superb fit-and-finish — Thailand and Indonesia’s local CKD (completely knocked down) factories adhere to the same quality levels as China’s signature factory.

Smart Features:

Dual high-resolution screens — 12.3-inch driver cluster + 15.6-inch infotainment.

Voice command driven by GAC’s AI assistant, enhanced for local accents.

Over-the-air (OTA) software updates — not common in this class.

Panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting.

Integrated air purifier — a gesture for city pollution.

Whether you’re inching through Jakarta’s macet or cruising Singapore’s highways, Aion V’s cabin feels more like anluxury than a budget commuter.

Performance: Practical Power

the Aion V is not pretending to be a sports SUV. But it does exactly what a daily electric family car should:

Motor & Battery:

Single front-mounted motor: ~204 hp and 350 Nm torque.

0–100 km/h in approximately 7.9–8.5 seconds, depending on trim.

64.5 kWh or 75.3 kWh lithium-ion battery, liquid-cooled for tropical place.

Claimed WLTP range: 435–485 km — realistic in stop-start urban traffic.

Regenerative braking can be adjusted via drive modes.

Charging:

180 kW DC fast charging — 10% to 80% in approximately 27 minutes.

Adds ~300 km range in a mere 15 minutes — perfect for developing but expanding charging networks in Thailand, Indonesia, or Vietnam.

Compatible with AC home wallbox (up to 11 kW).

Whether you’re commuting daily or making weekend trips to Pattaya or Bandung, the Aion V’s range and quick top-ups keep range anxiety low — something early adopters will appreciate.

Safety and Driver Assistance: Modern Protection Without the Premium Price

GAC Aion knows Southeast Asian families are safety-conscious. The Aion V isn’t cutting corners here:

Platform & Build:

Based on the AEP 3.0 EV platform, with high-strength steel body.

Designed to comply with China NCAP 5-star and prepared for local crash tests.

ADAS Tech (Available in most variants):

Adaptive Cruise Control with stop-go feature for city driving.

Lane Keeping Assist & Lane Departure Warning.

Blind Spot Monitoring & Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

540° camera with undercarriage view — ideal for narrow Bangkok parking.

Airbags? A maximum of 8, plus a new center airbag to minimize injury from side impacts. This package of technology for this price is impressive.

Real-World Capabilities: Built for ASEAN’s Roads and Weather

Southeast Asian roads are sometime unpredictable — abrupt floods, potholes, mixed surface. The Aion V’s relatively moderate 190 mm ground clearance and sealed underbody provide it an advantage over lower-sitting sedans.

Key Practical Touches:

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): Plug in a laptop, rice cooker, or even another EV.

Smart battery thermal management: Keeps the battery cool even on  40°C.

2WD only — but smart traction control is good on slippery roads.

Roomy 470 L boot, increased to 1,300 L with seats folded down.

This SUV is not an off-roader — but for city streets, rainy seasons, and weekend countryside getaways, it’s perfect.

Pricing, Variants and Availability in Southeast Asia

One of GAC Aion’s largest trump cards is local CKD assembly — it makes prices much more competitive than fully imported EVs.

Approximate Pricing (2025):

Thailand: ~THB 999,900 (~US$28,000) to ~THB 1,499,000 for range-topping trims.

Indonesia: ~IDR 450–600 million, some local EV incentives.

Singapore: S$166,000–S$175,000 (excluding COE).

Cambodia: ~US$36,000–40,000, depending on taxes.

Vietnam & Malaysia: Anticipated Q4 2025 rollout.

Running Costs:

With electricity prices lower than petrol in the majority of ASEAN nations, and fewer parts to wear out, the Aion V can save families thousands a year.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

Strong real-world range and super-fast charging.

Luxury build and features at mass-market cost.

Robust ADAS & comprehensive safety design.

Local assembly maintains cost competitiveness.

V2L provides flexibility for camping or emergency use.

Cons:

No AWD or dual-motor variant yet.

Some top features only in higher trims.

Limited brand trust — but growing rapidly with new service networks.

Early adopters will experience uneven charger supply in rural markets.

Verdict: The Aion V is the EV Southeast Asia Needed

If you need Tesla thrills, go elsewhere. If you need a cheap, dependable, feature-rich electric SUV that’s more premium than its price would imply — the Aion V is a good bet.

For Thai, Indonesian, or Singaporean families pondering “Is this the year I go EV?” — the Aion V has this answer: “Why wait?”

FAQs — Aion V 2025 in Southeast Asia

Q: Is the Aion V suitable for family car?

Yes — roomy, practical, safe, with features such as V2L and intelligent storage.

Q: How many years will the Aion V battery last?

GAC Aion includes an 8-year / 160,000 km battery warranty — standard across all the segment.

Q: Where can I drive the Aion V?

Major dealers in Bangkok, Jakarta, and Singapore currently provide test drives.