Latest news with #ThomasSchemera
Auto Car
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Chinese car firm GAC confirms UK launch!
State-owned car maker – a partner of Honda and Toyota – plans to undercut established EVs here Open gallery The GAC Aion UT is billed by its maker as "China's version of the Mini" Aion UT is slightly longer and wider than the Volkswagen ID 3 The hatchback was designed at GAC's European base in Milan, Italy Aion UT will arrive alongside Aion V crossover Close GAC, one of China's biggest car makers, will launch in the UK early next year with an electric hatchback and SUV aimed squarely at Volkswagen's ID 3 and ID 4. The firm's announcement confirms Autocar's exclusive report that it was planning an imminent launch here, with the firm viewing the UK as an especially bountiful growth market for EVs. As previously reported, the joint-venture partner of Honda and Toyota – which sold just over two million cars last year – plans to undercut established brands on price to attract buyers. The smaller of its first two models is the Aion UT hatchback, billed as 'China's version of the Mini'. Designed to suit city commuters, it's slightly longer and wider than the ID 3 – a decision informed by Chinese buyers' expectations of interior space. It is priced from the equivalent of just £7500 in its homeland but is expected to cost significantly more in the UK, due to the cost of shipping the car across the globe, plus taxes. But, according to GAC COO Thomas Schemera (who was previously a leading figure at Hyundai's N performance division and at BMW before that), the Aion UT must come in at a competitive price to generate any traction in a difficult market. 'From a price positioning point of view, to be higher than other competitors which have a well-established brand, that would be very challenging,' he said. 'Let me put it this way: we have to be smart and clever here to put our morals on the streets and also to simultaneously build the brand, not just with the product presence but supported by campaigns. "As long as our brand value is on such a low level, we have to do everything to increase it. 'With this mechanism, you can also increase the price step by step for your products. But first of all, you have to build confidence.' To that end, the Aion UT is expected to land in the UK in the mid-to-high £20,000s. This would have it significantly undercutting the ID 3 (£30,795), aligning it more closely with the MG 4 EV and upper versions of the Renault 5. UK specifications have yet to be confirmed, but in China, it employs a front-mounted 134bhp electric motor and a 60kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, yielding a range of 267 miles. Inside, the dashboard is dominated by a 14.6in infotainment touchscreen, which is used to operate key functions such as the climate controls. There is also an 8.8in digital instrument panel showing critical information such as the car's speed and range. In keeping with a Chinese trend, the front seats can be folded flat to form a bed-like arrangement with the rear seats. The hard plastics throughout the interior are moulded to lift perceived quality. For example, the windowsills give the impression of stitched leather, while the backing of the doorcards has a geometric finish, as if to mimic carbonfibre. Arriving alongside the Aion UT is the Aion V, a Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq-rivalling electric SUV revealed at last year's Paris motor show. It gets a 224bhp motor and a 90kWh LFP battery, giving a range of 324 miles. In addition to EVs, GAC intends to launch a range of hybrids , plug-in hybrids and 'in some cases' pure-ICE cars. The cars will be sold in the UK through a joint-venture with Jameel Motors, currently responsible for retailing Farizon electric vans and soon to add Geely-branded cars to its portfolio. Q&A: Thomas Schemera, chief operating officer, GAC Motor What sets GAC apart from its rivals? 'First and foremost, our premium quality. This is nothing outstanding, because every customer expects premium quality, but we have run joint ventures with Toyota and Honda and we learned the ropes from the beginning. If you take a walk through our facilities – especially for Aion [models] – and have a look at our production, we really know how lean production works. Quality is not just a word; we take it very seriously from a customer perspective.' What are your expectations for GAC's European launch? 'If you enter a marketplace and your brand awareness is low, you have to build brand awareness. The second step is to interact with customers – walking through this valley of tears, so to speak. You have to invest and you have to be absolutely aware that you cannot make money from the very beginning: this is impossible.' Why headquarter your design operations in Milan specifically? 'I'm a big fan of globalisation. It's very, very important from a Chinese perspective to understand globalisation, to want to know what our consumer benefits from across the world, and we have a lot of diversity. Not everything that works in China can be shifted across to another market, and that has to be very clearly understood - and vice versa.' As well as fleshing out plans for global expansion, GAC has shared its vision of a personal luxury car inspired by the legendary Bugatti Type 57SC, Concorde and Chanel handbags. The Chanel inspiration manifests in the Hyperluxury concept's livery: a black exterior largely free of branding (limited to the shrouds on the wing-mounted pop-up headlights) is contrasted against a bright orange interior, with a huge GAC logo embossed into the dashboard. The seats are inspired by the minimalist look of the famed Le Corbusier LC4 lounge chair, first produced in 1928, and contain zero heating or cooling elements. The driver is instead supposed to wear a large jacket containing these functions – a reference to the bold outfits worn by motorists in open-top cars throughout the '20s and '30s. Instead of a traditional key, the car is opened and started using a gold ring that the driver can wear as a piece of jewellery. GAC executives added that the concept was designed without the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Stephane Janin, design director for GAC's Milan studio, explained: 'We thought it should be human-made, because we compare it with luxury goods, and we thought that's a value we should work on for this very specific project. It was interesting for us to ask ourselves: 'what does hyperluxury mean nowadays?'' GAC doesn't plan to produce the car, however. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. 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Mail & Guardian
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Mail & Guardian
The GAC GS3 Emzoom is a refreshing and a different offering in a flooded SUV market
Sporty and stylish: The GAC Emzoom is a refreshing addition to the compact SUV market. It might come to the point where we lose track of how many Chinese brands there are in South Africa. We might even begin to lose track of how many compact SUVs are in the market because it has become congested with them. Chinese brand GAC Motor entered two SUV models into the South African market in the middle of 2024: the Emzoom and the Emkoo. In typical fashion, both cars looked good and came with all the fancy technology that we have become accustomed to getting in Chinese cars. The Mail & Guardian got behind the wheel of the Emzoom, which is available in three variants: Comfort, Executive and R-Style. We were lucky enough to get the top-of-the-range R-Style model and I was pleasantly surprised. I knew that the exterior and interior were going to be appealing, because Chinese manufacturers always put a lot of emphasis on bringing out a neat product. However, I did find some styling similarities with BMWs. For starters, on the R-Line trim, the black grille gets three gold panels, much like some BMWs, which have M-specific colours on their grilles. The colour coding on the inside also provided some similarities. The same blue plastics you see around the aircon vents in BMWs are present in the Emzoom R-Style. This is probably because Thomas Schemera, who has held key roles at both BMW M and Hyundai, is now the chief operating officer and senior vice president of GAC International. Alongside the ambient lighting inside the Emzoom, the air conditioning and volume dials also get a rainbow light around them. These style features give the car a fun and sporty atmosphere. Manufacturers sometimes try too hard to make compact SUVs feel luxurious with fancy screens, decked out interiors and the absence of buttons. While the Emzoom still has the fancy screens and is decked out, it doesn't aim for a luxurious interior, but rather something that boosts adrenaline. The Emzoom comes with the standard 1.5 litre turbocharged petrol engine that we are accustomed to getting in Chinese compact SUVs. Paired with a dual-clutch transmission gearbox, it will deliver 130kW of power and 270Nm of torque. The coolest feature of the car is the exhaust system which is designed to produce sound through 'active exhaust valves'. These can be toggled between open and closed, allowing for a louder and more sporty sound when open, especially in the sport mode. It adds to the fun feel the Emzoom was meant to have. You could actually fool people into thinking you were driving a sports car. But this feature also has a downside. I became obsessed with the exhaust sound, continually putting the car into sport mode. This exposed the sensitivity of the accelerator, making the car move too quickly. This is not ideal when navigating into tight parking spots or even pulling into your garage. Besides that, the Emzoom provides excellent handling and effortlessly picks up speed when you need it to. I experienced some turbo-lag, but it was not bad at all. It didn't make the vehicle feel unresponsive. The other downside is the fuel consumption. This is a pretty compact vehicle and, while GAC claims a consumption figure of 6.2 litres/100km, I averaged 8.1 litres/100km. Overall, I really enjoyed the GAC GS3 Emzoom. It felt different and refreshing. I loved the fact that GAC went all out in making it a fun and sporty experience without producing a performance monster. You get everything you need — and the lovely exhaust sound as a bonus but, in a flooded SUV market, it is difficult to say whether the Emzoom will make a splash. Pricing GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T Comfort — from: R419 900 GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T Executive — from: R439 900 GS3 EMZOOM 1.5L T R-Style — from: R489 900
Business Mayor
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
Seven new car brands coming to the UK in 2025 including budget Renault rival and two-seater electric quadricycle
SEVEN new car brands are coming to the UK in 2025 – here is a list of the best ones to keep an eye out for. Brit motor-heads are scrambling to check this guide by Autocar listing some of the incredible new cars set to launch in the UK market. 6 The Denza Z9GT of Chinese EV brand BYD Credit: Reuters Owned by Chinese EV giant BYD, this new brand is set to launch in the UK this year. Denza has been around since 2010 – but now stands almost shoulder to shoulder with BYD as its premium sibling brand. Originally a joint venture with Mercedes Benz's parents company – the firm is now owned in full by BYD. The first of its cars headed for Europe is the Z9GT. The engine comes either as a 925bhp EV or an 858bhp PHEV version. Shortly after, a seven-seat MPV called the D9 will also release in the UK. Although an official timeline hasn't been set, Denza will likely join the UK market by the end of this year. 6 The NIO model Firefly car Credit: EPA This budget brand is another Chinese firm set to open up in the UK. Owned by Nio, Firefly is an EV specialist whose first car will aim to rival the Renault 5. The impressive supermini costs as little as £16,000 in China – and could be one of the cheapest EV's on the UK market. Technical specifications such as power and range are yet to be released. Read More Car makers warn of post-Brexit EV tariffs causing UK price rises But it's been speculated that the brand may use Nio's innovative swappable battery packs. 6 The AION UT car Credit: AFP This brand might just be the biggest car maker that Brits have never heard of. The joint-venture partner of Honda and Toyota owned by China is coming to the UK 'very soon'. COO Thomas Schemera confirmed that the launch would happen in the near future . The first car to hit the UK will be the Aion UT – a hatchback billed as China's Mini, but is actually the same size Volkswagen ID 3. The Aion V crossover, a Model Y rival will also launch shortly after. 6 Mobilize Duo Credit: French brand Mobilize are looking to enter the 'sub-A-segment' to challenge the likes of the Citroën Ami and Micro Microlino electric quadricycles. Owned by Renault, the Mobilize Duo has been dubbed the French car giant's spiritual successor. The big battery version can reportedly travel up to a whopping 100 miles. And a van version of the car called the Bento gets rid of the single rear seat in exchange for more boot space. 6 The Onvo L60 SUV Credit: Reuters Also parented by Nio, this Chinese brand was founded in 2024 but is already being compared to the likes of Tesla and Polestar. The car is gearing up to land in the UK due to our lack of import tariffs on Chinese EVs. The L60 will be the first car to arrive in the UK. Onvo called it the most aerodynamically efficient SUV on the entire market. It will likely come with three BYD-supplied battery packs – the largest of which will offer a 620-mile range. 6 The Yangwang U8 giant SUV Credit: AFP The prestigious Yangwang, also owned by BYD, will also be coming to the UK. Its biggest car – the mammoth Yangwang U8 SUV – should be on its way later this year. This off-roader can turn on a sixpence thanks to its quad motors, makes 1180bhp and has a kerb weight of nearly 3,500kg. It can also even float in water for up to half an hour. The incredible design is a range-extender with four motors, a 49kWh battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine working as a generator. And finally this Chinese brand which owns Jaecoo and Omoda is also getting ready to launch its third brand, Lepas, into the UK. Owned by Chery, the Tiggo 4 Pro from Lepas will rival the Dacia Duster when it comes to the UK this year. It is already sold in right-hand drive markets like South Africa and Australia – with it costing about £13,000 down under. But its low price may not remain that way once it is sold here. Jaecoo and Omoda's focus is large, semi-premium SUVs – while Lepas will be positioned more towards the higher value end of the market.
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Seven new car brands coming to the UK in 2025 including budget Renault rival and two-seater electric quadricycle
Read to find out more details on each of the impressive cars FRESH FACES Seven new car brands coming to the UK in 2025 including budget Renault rival and two-seater electric quadricycle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SEVEN new car brands are coming to the UK in 2025 - here is a list of the best ones to keep an eye out for. Brit motor-heads are scrambling to check this guide by Autocar listing some of the incredible new cars set to launch in the UK market. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Denza 6 The Denza Z9GT of Chinese EV brand BYD Credit: Reuters Owned by Chinese EV giant BYD, this new brand is set to launch in the UK this year. Denza has been around since 2010 - but now stands almost shoulder to shoulder with BYD as its premium sibling brand. Originally a joint venture with Mercedes Benz's parents company - the firm is now owned in full by BYD. The first of its cars headed for Europe is the Z9GT. This shooting brake comes either as a 925bhp EV or an 858bhp PHEV version. Shortly after, a seven-seat MPV called the D9 will also release in the UK. Although an official timeline hasn't been set, Denza will likely join the UK market by the end of this year. Firefly 6 The NIO model Firefly car Credit: EPA This budget brand is another Chinese firm set to open up in the UK. Owned by Nio, Firefly is an EV specialist whose first car will aim to rival the Renault 5. The impressive supermini costs as little as £16,000 in China - and could be one of the cheapest EV's on the UK market. Technical specifications such as power and range are yet to be released. But it's been speculated that the brand may use Nio's innovative swappable battery packs. GAC 6 The AION UT car Credit: AFP This brand might just be the biggest car maker that Brits have never heard of. The joint-venture partner of Honda and Toyota owned by China is coming to the UK "very soon". COO Thomas Schemera confirmed that the launch would happen in the near future. The first car to hit the UK will be the Aion UT - a hatchback billed as China's Mini, but is actually the same size Volkswagen ID 3. The Aion V crossover, a Model Y rival will also launch shortly after. Mobilize 6 Mobilize Duo Credit: French brand Mobilize are looking to enter the "sub-A-segment" to challenge the likes of the Citroën Ami and Micro Microlino electric quadricycles. Owned by Renault, the Mobilize Duo has been dubbed the French car giant's spiritual successor. The big battery version can reportedly travel up to a whopping 100 miles. And a van version of the car called the Bento gets rid of the single rear seat in exchange for more boot space. Onvo 6 The Onvo L60 SUV Credit: Reuters Also parented by Nio, this Chinese brand was founded in 2024 but is already being compared to the likes of Tesla and Polestar. The car is gearing up to land in the UK due to our lack of import tariffs on Chinese EVs. The L60 will be the first car to arrive in the UK. Onvo called it the most aerodynamically efficient SUV on the entire market. It will likely come with three BYD-supplied battery packs - the largest of which will offer a 620-mile range. Yangwang 6 The Yangwang U8 giant SUV Credit: AFP The prestigious Yangwang, also owned by BYD, will also be coming to the UK. Its biggest car - the mammoth Yangwang U8 SUV - should be on its way later this year. This off-roader can turn on a sixpence thanks to its quad motors, makes 1180bhp and has a kerb weight of nearly 3,500kg. It can also even float in water for up to half an hour. The incredible design is a range-extender with four motors, a 49kWh battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine working as a generator. Lepas And finally this Chinese brand which owns Jaecoo and Omoda is also getting ready to launch its third brand, Lepas, into the UK. Owned by Chery, the Tiggo 4 Pro from Lepas will rival the Dacia Duster when it comes to the UK this year. It is already sold in right-hand drive markets like South Africa and Australia - with it costing about £13,000 down under. But its low price may not remain that way once it is sold here. Jaecoo and Omoda's focus is large, semi-premium SUVs - while Lepas will be positioned more towards the higher value end of the market.
The Irish Sun
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Seven new car brands coming to the UK in 2025 including budget Renault rival and two-seater electric quadricycle
SEVEN new car brands are coming to the UK in 2025 - here is a list of the best ones to keep an eye out for. Brit motor-heads are scrambling to check this guide by Advertisement Denza 6 The Denza Z9GT of Chinese EV brand BYD Credit: Reuters Owned by Chinese EV giant BYD, this new brand is set to launch in the UK this year. Denza has been around since 2010 - but now stands almost shoulder to shoulder with BYD as its premium sibling brand. Originally a joint venture with Mercedes Benz's parents company - the firm is now owned in full by BYD. The first of its cars headed for Europe is the Z9GT. Advertisement READ MORE MOTOR NEWS This shooting brake comes either as a 925bhp EV or an 858bhp PHEV version. Shortly after, a seven-seat MPV called the D9 will also release in the UK. Although an official timeline hasn't been set, Denza will likely join the UK market by the end of this year. Firefly 6 The NIO model Firefly car Credit: EPA Advertisement This budget brand is another Chinese firm set to open up in the UK. Most read in Motors Owned by Nio, Firefly is an EV specialist whose first car will aim to rival the Renault 5. The impressive supermini costs as little as £16,000 in China - and could be one of the cheapest EV's on the UK market. Technical specifications such as power and range are yet to be released. Advertisement But it's been speculated that the brand may use Nio's innovative swappable battery packs. GAC 6 The AION UT car Credit: AFP This brand might just be the biggest car maker that Brits have never heard of. The joint-venture partner of Honda and Toyota owned by China is coming to the UK "very soon". Advertisement COO Thomas Schemera confirmed that the launch would happen in the near future . The first car to hit the UK will be the Aion UT - a hatchback billed as China's Mini, but is actually the same size Volkswagen ID 3. The Aion V crossover, a Model Y rival will also launch shortly after. Mobilize 6 Mobilize Duo Credit: Advertisement French brand Mobilize are looking to enter the "sub-A-segment" to challenge the likes of the Citroën Ami and Micro Microlino electric quadricycles. Owned by Renault, the Mobilize Duo has been dubbed the French car giant's spiritual successor. The big battery version can reportedly travel up to a whopping 100 miles. And a van version of the car called the Bento gets rid of the single rear seat in exchange for more boot space. Advertisement Onvo 6 The Onvo L60 SUV Credit: Reuters Also parented by Nio, this Chinese brand was founded in 2024 but is already being compared to the likes of Tesla and Polestar. The car is gearing up to land in the UK due to our lack of import tariffs on Chinese EVs. The L60 will be the first car to arrive in the UK. Advertisement Onvo called it the most aerodynamically efficient SUV on the entire market. It will likely come with three BYD-supplied battery packs - the largest of which will offer a 620-mile range. Yangwang 6 The Yangwang U8 giant SUV Credit: AFP The prestigious Yangwang, also owned by BYD, will also be coming to the UK. Advertisement Its biggest car - the mammoth Yangwang U8 SUV - should be on its way later this year. This off-roader can turn on a sixpence thanks to its quad motors, makes 1180bhp and has a kerb weight of nearly 3,500kg. It can also even float in water for up to half an hour. The incredible design is a range-extender with four motors, a 49kWh battery and a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine working as a generator. Advertisement Lepas And finally this Chinese brand which owns Jaecoo and Omoda is also getting ready to launch its third brand, Lepas, into the UK. Owned by Chery, the Tiggo 4 Pro from Lepas will rival the Dacia Duster when it comes to the UK this year. It is already sold in right-hand drive markets like South Africa and Australia - with it costing about £13,000 down under. But its low price may not remain that way once it is sold here. Advertisement Jaecoo and Omoda's focus is large, semi-premium SUVs - while Lepas will be positioned more towards the higher value end of the market.
