29 Years to Build 30 Million Cars, What 'Secrets' Lie Behind GAC's Achievements?

Yesterday, GAC held a rather special event in its hometown of Panyu, Guangzhou. No boring specs were discussed on site, nor was there any bashing of competitors; the star of the show was a right-hand drive version of the Trumpchi M8 PHEV.

When GAC Chairman Feng Xingya handed the car keys to Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa, the number on the big screen froze at 30 million. From 1997 to now, it took GAC 29 years to sell 30 million cars to all corners of the globe.

It took GAC a full 20 years to go from 0 to 10 million; but crossing from 10 million to 30 million took only 9 years.

In today's incredibly competitive automotive market, selling well might just mean catching a short-term trend, but for a group to consistently sell 30 million cars is definitely not about luck. Peeling back those dazzling sales figures, what exactly can we see about the foundation of an established automaker within those 30 million units of trust?

Not Treating Users as Guinea Pigs is the Bottom Line of Car Making

In GAC's R&D system, there is a hard rule called 'Two Winters and One Summer'. Simply put, before a new car launches, it must be harshly tested at test tracks across the country for 18 to 21 months.

Engineers will take the cars to Hulunbuir at -40℃, then to Turpan at 60℃. The goal is to ensure screens don't freeze to black in the north in winter, and batteries don't fail after summer sun exposure in the south. For those extreme road conditions you might never encounter in your life, they have to run them tens of thousands of times for you first.

But what truly makes people think GAC has 'real stuff' is the 'Three Responsibilities' policy released late last year. This caused quite a stir in the industry, after all, it is a genuine financial backstop deal.

New energy owners fear fires, range loss, and scraping during assisted parking. GAC announced: If the battery, electric motor, and electronic control systems quality causes self-ignition and scrapping, we directly compensate you with a new car; if battery degradation exceeds the standard, replace it for free; if an accident occurs during assisted parking, the manufacturer covers all repair costs.

Having the courage to do this is backed by underlying data. For example, the Sapphire Battery Pack has accumulated 1.5 million vehicles installed, with over 160 billion kilometers of safe driving. Without this solid quality control foundation, no one would dare to make bold claims casually.

From 'Engineers Think It's Good' to 'You Think It's Good'

Those familiar with GAC know that deep down they are car-making engineers, holding a bag of hardcore technologies, but in the past they occasionally fell into the strange loop of 'technical self-satisfaction'.

In 2024, GAC moved its headquarters to Panyu and launched the 'Panyu Action'. The purpose was singular: to completely twist the car-making mindset from engineering thinking to user thinking.

The most direct approach is regularly holding 'Open User Feedback Sessions'. Car manufacturers no longer build cars behind closed doors, but invite owners into their homes, letting senior R&D staff listen to complaints face-to-face and set optimization plans.

For example, the high-end brand Qijing created in partnership with Huawei, with its first car Qijing GT7 precisely hitting user pain points, equipped with Huawei ADS 5 assisted driving system, paired with a million-level Chitu chassis, blending smart experiences and mechanical quality together.

The cockpit has also become smarter. In the past, the infotainment system was like a rigid calculator; now the Star River Smart Cockpit side-terminal response is under 1.6 seconds. When you issue complex commands, it can actively decompose services like a capable butler, so you no longer need to shout hoarsely and rigidly for a wake-up word.

Regarding power, Xingyuan Power saves a lot of trouble for hybrid owners. The range-extending technology achieves 1 liter of fuel converting to 3.73 kWh of electricity. This means when running on oil, the engine intervention doesn't sound like a tractor roaring, and fuel consumption is forced down to the '3' range per 100 kilometers.

Open Stores at the Village Entrance, Sell Cars to the Whole World

Making good cars is the first step, how to make owners enjoy using them is another matter. To solve usage pain points, GAC quietly spread a wide net offline.

They plan to add 1,000 new stores in county-level areas this year, and have already secured 600, so locals can walk to see cars or get maintenance later. For energy replenishment, GAC invested heavily to build a '9 Verticals, 10 Horizontals' network, covering 213 cities, with over 27,000 self-operated charging piles, achieving 'a station every straight 1 kilometer in core urban areas'.

Looking further ahead, GAC's ambition extends far beyond domestic markets. In the first half of this year, their overseas report card was quite impressive. Export volume reached 121,500 units, a surge of 132% year-on-year. Thailand's June sales increased 207% month-over-month, and Europe has also solidly built a full-link operation system.

Relying on the 'One GAC 2.0' strategy, they established 746 outlets, 7 factories, and 9 parts warehouses overseas. This is truly taking root in someone else's territory with real weapons, conducting systematic overseas expansion.

According to the plan, by 2030, GAC aims to sell cars to 120 countries globally, achieving an annual sales volume of 1 million. From 'Made in Guangzhou' to 'Global Intelligent Manufacturing', this move is very steady.

Behind the 30 Million, Are Countless Passionate Lives

Business analysis looks at the big data, but for ordinary people, cars are never just transportation tools. They participate in the joys and sorrows of tens of millions of families, witnessing the passionate lives of countless ordinary people.

78-year-old amputee Grandpa Su defied his age, modified an automatic Fit, and drove his spouse all the way to the Tanggula Mountain Pass at an altitude of 5,300 meters. In six years and 200,000 kilometers, this little Fit became his legs for measuring the world.

30-year veteran owner Xie Yuanliang drives a Highlander that always carries AED equipment. Shuttling between marathons and rescue fronts, this car became a mobile life protection station.

There is also referee Li Weili, who was hit hard by a small truck in a car accident. The Hyper HT saved her life with its hardcore steel skeleton. For this life-saving friendship, she blindly ordered the new Hyper HL this year with her eyes closed.

These stories are the flesh and blood part within the 30 million number. At this milestone, GAC did not play empty, directly launching the 'New Gratitude Season', where all six of its brands are giving back heavily.

New cars have direct subsidies that get everything done and interest-free financial gifts; old owners exchanging or purchasing more can enjoy extra family pricing combined benefits. Using the most real concessions to thank those who supported them with genuine money.

29 years, 30 million vehicles. For GAC, this is a moment worth toasting. But for GAC, this is just a new starting point: As cars become smarter and understand human hearts better, GAC is adopting a more down-to-earth and long-termist posture to embark towards the next 30 million stars and seas.