FET Auto Company Limited, an industrial service provider and commercial vehicle dealership in Accra, has launched the full range of Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) car models onto the Ghanaian market.
GAC is a Chinese car maker that builds fuel SUVs, hybrid family cars and electric vehicles.
The nine models unveiled were different categories of intelligent SUVs, business MPVs, IEVs, PHEVs, and EVs, covering EMKOO, GS3 EMZOOM, S7, GS8, S9, M8, AION i60, AION Y, AION V.
The event was held on the theme, "Where Craft Meets Technology, Reliable for Every Mile in Ghana".
GAC has, through FET Auto, established a local operation framework covering high coverage sales networks, standardised after-sales service systems, stable spare parts supply chains and mature import customs clearance logistics.
With a complete channel layout and local service capabilities, it will provide users in Ghana with one-stop service guarantees from vehicle sales, original equipment supply, professional maintenance to full life cycle technical support, effectively eliminating users' concerns after purchasing.
Models
The GS8, positioned as GAC's flagship SUV, comes as a seven-seater with three full rows of seating, power-folding third-row seats and a luggage capacity of up to 1,859 litres, in addition to a suite of driver-assist features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist.
The M8, the brand's flagship multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), offers a flexible cabin layout for business or family use, plush leather seating, ambient lighting and a large touch screen infotainment display, alongside a 360-degree camera and lane-keeping assist for added safety.
On the electric side, the AION Y and AION V are battery-powered compact SUVs built on GAC's fire-resistant "Magazine Battery" technology, which offers several hundred kilometres of range per charge, while the HYPTEC HT, a coupé-style electric SUV with gull-wing rear doors, seats five and can travel more than 500 kilometres on a single charge, with rapid charging said to add hundreds of kilometres of range in minutes.
EV numbers
Speaking at the launch, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, said the world was shifting decisively towards green mobility and Ghana was leading that transition on the continent.
He said the country now had more than 70,000 electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads, the highest number in Africa, describing the trend as a positive development for the environment.
"Unlike combustion engines, these EVs do not emit any carbon dioxide to pollute our environment," he said, adding that the cost of maintaining EVs was considerably lower than that of petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles.
Mr Debrah said EV owners also saved on running costs, explaining that some vehicles could travel up to 350 kilometres on a single charge lasting a few hours, removing the need to buy fuel.
He commended President John Dramani Mahama for the vision behind the country's EV drive and urged Ghanaians to consider switching to electric vehicles to protect the environment and lower their cost of living.
GAC-FET Auto partnership
The General Manager of GAC International, Wei Haigang, said GAC International regarded Ghana as an important strategic fulcrum in Africa's strategy and global layout.
"GAC International will take this listing as a new starting point, continue to increase product supply and brand building in Ghana and the West African market, bring higher-quality automotive products and service experiences to local consumers, and practice the local development concept of 'in Ghana, for Ghana, integrating into Ghana, and contributing to Ghana', achieving deep integration and long-term development," he said.
The Deputy General Manager of FET Auto, Jason Lee, said rapid urban development, rising living standards and evolving travel needs were creating new opportunities in the local automotive industry.
He stated that FET Auto, drawing on long-term marketing experience and in-depth local insights, had partnered GAC Motors to introduce a full range of passenger vehicles, covering fuel, hybrid and electric models, to Ghana and the wider West African market.
For his part, the President of the Chamber of Automotive Dealership Ghana, Obrempong Nana Bonsu Agyekum Prempeh, said the association would continue to build a communication bridge between the government and enterprises and fully support GAC and FET Auto in expanding their dealer channels and implementing the deployment of new energy solutions in the Ghanaian market.
He urged latest automotive brands to prioritise customer confidence and after-sales value over sales volumes as GAC officially enters the Ghanaian market.
