On May 17, GAC held a grand brand launch event in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, officially unveiling its “Ethiopia Action” — “in Ethiopia, for Ethiopia, integrating into Ethiopia, serving Ethiopia, and contributing to Ethiopia”. At the event, GAC INTERNATIONAL debuted two new energy vehicles: the globally strategic AION Y Plus and the premium intelligent electric SUV ES9, offering Ethiopian consumers new green mobility options.
H.E. Chen Hai, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia; Dr. Alemu Sime Feyisa, Minister of Transport and Logistics of Ethiopia; Dr. Zeleke Temesgen Boxu, Director of the Ethiopian Investment Commission; H.E. Bareo Hassen, State Minister of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics of Ethiopia; Minister-Counselor Zhang Wei of the Chinese Mission to the African Union; Liu Xiaoguang, Minister-Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia; Feng Xingya, Chairman and President of GAC Group; Wei Haigang, President of GAC International; Wang Shunsheng, Vice President of GAC International; Zhang Huarong, Chairman of Huajian Group, and other government and business representatives gathered to jointly witness this historic milestone in China-Ethiopia automotive industry cooperation.
On May 17, Dr. Alemu Sime Feyisa, Minister of Transport and Logistics of Ethiopia, and Chinese Ambassador Chen Hai held separate meetings with GAC Chairman Feng Xingya.
Dr. Alemu Sime Feyisa noted that business environment of Ethiopia is steadily improving and that the country has maintained strong partnerships with Chinese enterprises. He expressed high hope that GAC will thrive in Ethiopia’s EV sector, emphasizing that the government will provide greater support. He believes compelling products of GAC will win the favor of Ethiopian consumers.
Chen Hai, Ambassador of China to Ethiopia, emphasized: "China and Ethiopia have established an all-weather strategic partnership, and the GAC project is a landmark achievement in deepening capacity cooperation between the two countries. We look forward to this project becoming a model for technology transfer, job creation, and green development."
Chairman Feng Xingya shared GAC Group’s development progress and the latest updates on its business in Ethiopia with Dr. Alemu.
Chairman Feng remarked that Ethiopia is a dynamic and promising investment destination, with its population of 120 million offering tremendous growth potential for the automotive market. With Ethiopia becoming the first country to ban fuel vehicle imports last year, new energy vehicles face an unprecedented opportunity. GAC will comprehensively deepen its presence in the country and contribute to the market’s green transformation.
Zhang Huarong, Chairman of Huajian Group, first and most critical partner of GAC in Ethiopia, announced plans to accelerate the installation of charging stations. He added that Huajian and GAC will jointly develop Huajian Industrial Park into a full-scale automotive industrial hub, driving the modernization of Ethiopia’s auto industry.
Since GAC signed an authorized distribution agreement with Huajian Group in April 2024, the two parties have swiftly advanced cooperation around a “Product + Ecosystem” strategy. GAC has already showcased its strength at the Ethiopia Manufacturing Expo and the Ministry of Transport and Logistics’ exhibition, attracting widespread consumer interest.
The Ethiopia brand launch marks a significant milestone in GAC’s expansion into the local market. As the only Chinese automaker to export with a built-in energy ecosystem, GAC officially introduced its full industrial chain “Ethiopia Action” under its “One GAC 2.0” globalization strategy.
Wei Haigang, President of GAC INTERNATIONAL, stated: “We will fully implement the ‘Ethiopia Action,’ building comprehensive systems in product development, intelligent manufacturing, channels, and services—“in Ethiopia, for Ethiopia, integrating into Ethiopia, serving Ethiopia, and contributing to Ethiopia”. Our goal is to make GAC a trusted brand among Ethiopian consumers.”
On the product front, GAC officially entered the Ethiopian market with the AION Y Plus and ES9, offering both pure electric and plug-in hybrid options—showcasing its leading capabilities in the NEV sector.
After test-driving the vehicles at the event, guests and media praised the product competitiveness and expressed confidence that GAC will become a top green mobility choice for Ethiopian consumers.
GAC will continue on introducing locally tailored products to the Ethiopian market, gradually building a complete and diverse model lineup.
Wei Haigang also revealed that a KD (Knock-Down) factory project is in the pipeline. GAC aims to localize production as soon as possible to support the transformation and upgrade of Ethiopia’s manufacturing system.
In terms of infrastructure and energy ecosystems, GAC and Huajian Group are accelerating the rollout of charging networks and energy storage systems in key regions, advancing green infrastructure in Ethiopia.
As the key partner GAC in Ethiopia, Zhang Huarong, Chairman of Huajian Group, stated: “This collaboration will drive a four-in-one vision—‘Lighting up Ethiopia, Powering Ethiopia, Smartening Ethiopia, and Innovating Ethiopia’—leveraging the new energy technology of GAC to accelerate the modernization of Ethiopia’s automotive industry.”
Dr. Zeleke, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and Bareo Hassen, State Minister of Transport and Logistics, spoke highly of GAC’s Ethiopia Initiative. He noted that “The GAC project will be incorporated into Ethiopia’s national automotive industry strategy to help realize the goals of ‘Made in Ethiopia 2025.’”
As the gateway to East Africa, Ethiopia plays a leading role in regional cooperation across the continent. Positioned at the intersection of deepening China-Africa relations, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the transformation of Africa’s automotive industry, GAC will use its localized practice in Ethiopia as a model to share Chinese expertise and solutions, working together with African countries to build a new chapter of green, low-carbon, and mutually beneficial development.