Australia’s EV price war heats up! Cheaper GAC Aion UT coming to take on BYD Atto 1 and Geely EX2
The battle to be Australia’s cheapest EV is set to intensify before the end of 2026, with GAC confirming a new shorter-range and almost certainly cheaper version of its Aion UT electric hatchback.
The new entry-level Aion UT will use a smaller 44kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and offer an estimated 320km WLTP driving range when it joins the existing two-model line-up late this year.
GAC is yet to announce a price or complete Australian specification, but says the new model has been developed with “financial accessibility” in mind.
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That puts the $23,990 BYD Atto 1 Essential and $26,490 Geely EX2 Complete firmly in its sights.
The current Aion UT range starts at $31,990 plus on-road costs for the Premium and rises to $35,990 for the Luxury. Both use a 60kWh LFP battery and offer 430km WLTP range.
GAC is currently offering the Premium from $31,990 drive-away nationwide, which it says provides an indication of where the new 44kWh model will be positioned.
A sub-$30,000 price before on-roads therefore appears inevitable, although just how aggressively GAC chooses to go will determine whether the new UT challenges the Atto 1 for the title of Australia’s cheapest EV.
The $23,990 Atto 1 Essential has a 30kWh LFP battery and 220km WLTP range, while the $27,990 Premium steps up to 43.2kWh and 310km.
That puts the new 44kWh Aion UT remarkably close to the Atto 1 Premium on battery capacity, while its estimated 320km WLTP range is 10km longer. The Atto 1 Premium produces 115kW and 220Nm, compared with 65kW/175Nm for the Essential.
The Geely EX2 is another obvious rival and currently sits between the two Atto 1 variants on price.
The $26,490 EX2 Complete uses a 35.3kWh LFP battery, has 252km WLTP range and produces 60kW/150Nm, while the $30,990 Inspire gets a 47.1kWh battery, 345km range and an 85kW/150Nm motor.
Again, the new Aion UT sits between the two on battery capacity and range.
The existing Aion UT Premium and Luxury use the same 150kW/210Nm front-mounted electric motor and accelerate from 0-100km/h in a claimed 7.3 seconds.
GAC has not confirmed whether that motor will carry over to the 44kWh model and specifically says Australian specifications are still being finalised.
The GAC will offer a size advantage over its two key rivals.
At 4270mm long, 1850mm wide and 1575mm high with a 2750mm wheelbase, the Aion UT is 135mm longer than the EX2 and has a wheelbase 105mm longer.
At 4270mm long, 1850mm wide and 1575mm high with a 2750mm wheelbase, the Aion UT is a substantial 280mm longer and 130mm wider than the Atto 1, while its wheelbase stretches an extra 250mm.
The Aion UT is also 135mm longer and 45mm wider than the Geely EX2, with a 105mm longer wheelbase.
The Geely counters with a 375-litre boot and useful 70-litre frunk. The Atto 1 offers 308 litres of boot space, while the current Aion UT has 321 litres, expanding to 689 litres with its rear seats folded, and no frunk.
Equipment for the new entry model has not been announced, so it is also unclear how much will be stripped from the existing Premium to achieve the lower price.
The current Premium includes 17-inch alloy wheels, powered and heated front seats, a heat pump, 14.6-inch infotainment screen, 8.8-inch instrument display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite-navigation, six-speaker audio and a 360-degree camera.
Its 60kWh battery can accept up to 87kW DC fast charging and 11kW AC charging. GAC has yet to reveal charging rates for the smaller 44kWh pack.
The new variant will retain GAC’s Magazine Battery 2.0 technology, with the company claiming the smaller battery has been chosen specifically to make the UT more accessible to buyers shopping at the entry end of the EV market.
“GAC is committed to delivering products that are tailored to the needs of Australian consumers, and in this instance, the call for more accessible entry-level EVs was particularly strong,” said GAC Australia CEO Kevin Shu.
Pricing and complete Australian specifications for the 44kWh Aion UT will be announced closer to its late-2026 launch.
Cheap EV comparison
| BYD Atto 1 Essential | Geely EX2 Complete | BYD Atto 1 Premium | New GAC Aion UT | Geely EX2 Inspire | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price + ORCs | $23,990 | $26,490 | $27,990 | TBC | $30,990 |
| Battery | 30kWh | 35.3kWh | 43.2kWh | 44kWh | 47.1kWh |
| WLTP range | 220km | 252km | 310km | 320km est. | 345km |
| Power | 65kW | 60kW | 115kW | TBC | 85kW |
| Torque | 175Nm | 150Nm | 220Nm | TBC | 150Nm |
| Drive | FWD | RWD | FWD | TBC | RWD |
| DC charging | 65kW | 60kW | 85kW | TBC | 80kW |
| Length | 3990mm | 4135mm | 3990mm | 4270mm | 4135mm |
| Width | 1720mm | 1805mm | 1720mm | 1850mm | 1805mm |
| Height | 1590mm | 1580mm | 1590mm | 1575mm | 1580mm |
| Wheelbase | 2500mm | 2645mm | 2500mm | 2750mm | 2645mm |
| Boot | 308L | 375L | 308L | 321L* | 375L |
| Frunk | No | 70L | No | No* | 70L |
*Based on the existing Aion UT; final specification of the new 44kWh variant is yet to be confirmed.
