GAC’S GM8: Redefining luxury in the MPV market

GAC Motors made a big splash when it entered the local automotive market last year when it unveiled five new models during its brand launch with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte and Senate President Vicente Sotto III present as guests of honor. President Duterte even unveiled one of the models during the event held last November. GAC held its first public debut and launch of its models at the 2019 Manila International Auto Show at the World Trade Center last summer led by Legado Motor chairman former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, the country’s importer and exclusive distributor for the GAC brand.

Inquirer Motoring was among the first media group from the Philippines to visit GAC production hub in Guangzhou, China, visiting the various facilities located in the area. Established in 1986, GAC Motor, along with its parent company Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) traces its roots in automobile manufacturing when it entered into a joint venture with French automobile brand Peugeot in the 1986 which eventually led to the establishment of GAC in 2007 and was the first state-owned automaker to be listed in the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges. By 2013, GAC Group has been included in the Fortune 500 list and ranked 202nd spot in 2018.

Barely a year in the business in the Philippines, Legato Motor has been introducing well-made Chinese passenger vehicles in the market including its top-end and premium sedan, SUV and MPV 8-series models—the GA8, GS8 and GM8 respectively. It is the first Chinese brand to cover all these segments in the premium mid-size sedan, SUV and MPV lineups.

The GM8 is GAC Motor’s entry to the MPV segment, its first foray in the premium executive minivan market, with a very stylish yacht-like interior and well-sculpted and elegant exterior and positioned as a value-driven alternative to its Japanese and Korean counterparts.

Inside, one can easily appreciate its luxurious and elegant cabin, starting with what GAC calls its “360-degree Serene Sanctuary” with a 32-color LED adjustable ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, and leather clad upholstery. Its center console is highlighted with a 10-inch LED screen to ensure full access to its functions.

The GM8 offers luxurious and comfortable seating for seven passengers: the two captain seats on the second row are equipped with a back massager and power-adjustable leg rest and ergonomically comfortable head rests. Thanks to its spacious cabin and wheelbase, its third row seats also offer excellent legroom for optimum comfort on the road.

The GM8 features a three-zone automatic air conditioning unit with air purification system. And its 8-speaker modern infotainment system offers excellent connectivity: Apple Carplay and Bluetooth connection with hands-free phone system as well as a wide angle 180° backup camera system complete with parking sensors for easy urban maneuverability.

Its focus on integrating exceptional quality and excellent customer experience, all GAC Motor vehicles received five-star ratings in China Automotive Technology and Research Center’s China-New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) crash test, making it the only car in China with full five-star rating. It also managed to rack up six consecutive awards for J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study (IQS) from 2013 to 2018 and its GS8 SUV model earned top spot last year in quality in the large SUV segment. It also received the highest score (653 points) for the second year in a row for China’s 2018 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI).

What’s not surprising about the GAC is its price, at P2.88 million, it offers affordable premium executive mobility without hurting the checkbook. Visit gacmotorph.com and facebook.cpm/gacmotorph to know more about GAC Motor’s full vehicle lineup.