The GAC Pickup 01 shows off a futuristic dual-cab ute contender from China with Tesla-like looks as the first of a new generation of commercial vehicles.
The GAC Pickup 01 concept has been unveiled ahead of the car maker’s arrival in Australian showrooms later this year with a ‘sci-fi aesthetic’ and monster truck stance with passenger-like car tech underneath.
GAC has previously announced plans to launch in Australia in mid-2025 with two brands: GAC for hybrid vehicles and Aion for electric cars.
According to state-owned Chinese car maker GAC – which stands for Guangzhou Automobile Group – the electric Pickup 01 follows an ‘OmniTerrain Pickup’ philosophy – meaning ‘all-terrain’.
Its sharp angles and flat surfaces may not be as bold as a Tesla Cybertruck, but the Pickup 01 is self-described by GAC as inspired by ‘sci-fi’ and appearing ‘muscular’ while showing clear ‘futurism’ in its looks.
Only basic information was announced, with the Pickup 01 using a new GAC Adaptive Intelligent Architecture platform which “dynamically adjusts suspension and powertrain systems to accommodate urban, off-road, and payload”.
It also has a raft of Drive Assist Technology, branded as X-SouL Safety Shield, while its interior can be reconfigured as a ‘mobile living space’ according to the car maker.
The Pickup 01 is the first vehicle to follow GAC commercial vehicle’s ‘135 Development Strategy’ – the name given to the car maker’s plan to become a global leader in electric commercial vehicles.
Announced in November 2024, the 135 strategy aims for a ¥30 billion ($AU6.44 billion) RMB by 2030 as a ‘backbone force’ in commercial vehicles (the ‘1’ in ‘135’).
The ‘3’ represents ‘intelligent manufacturing’, ‘industrial alliance’ and ‘user ecology’ in development while the ‘5’ is for strategic actions including leveraging existing resources and expanding globally.
GAC Commercial Vehicles’ initial export markets are led by Australia, Saudi Arabia and Chile.
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