In the domestic auto market of 2024, everyone has witnessed how fierce the competition has been. Unlike the wild growth of the new energy vehicle circle in earlier years, if a new car wants to break out, it really cannot do so without bringing something real. Technology, product, and marketing all need to be taken into account in every aspect, and only then might it be possible to gain a foothold in today's auto market. And if you want to create a hit model, in addition to covering every aspect, you also have to be able to "compete" hard enough that competitors simply do not have the confidence to sit at the "card table."
The AION RT launched by GAC Aion in November last year is clearly a car that balances all aspects and is also extremely good at "competing." The AION RT is positioned as an A+级 sedan, and its price of 11.98-16.58万元 made many consumers exclaim that it was awesome. As soon as it hit the market, it dealt competitors a heavy blow. In its first month on the market, sales directly exceeded 11,811 units. In December, the first full month after the AION RT's launch, sales directly exceeded 16,000 units, with sales repeatedly hitting new highs. It is also a typical representative of being a king right from its debut.
And clearly, entering 2025, the AION RT obviously does not intend to leave competitors a chance to catch their breath and counterattack. At the start of the year, it sent out a large wave of car purchase benefits. First, by purchasing the AION RT in January, customers can still enjoy the "trade-in" fallback guarantee and can still continue the cash subsidy for trade-ins from 2024. At the same time, for users who purchase a car between January 1 and February 28, 2025, a limited-time 3,000元 insurance subsidy policy was also introduced, firing the first shot in the new year's auto market offensive (Note: after the 2025 national subsidy policy is introduced, Aion's "fallback policy" will only apply to regions where there is no local national subsidy). In addition, there are a series of benefits such as 0 down payment, lifetime warranty for the three electric systems, and a free charging pile. Combined with various subsidies, the entry-level version of the AION RT can be purchased for around 100,000元, while the version with lidar + advanced intelligent driving can be purchased for 130,000元. Whether such a price is attractive or not, everyone knows the answer in their hearts.
Long range + 3C fast charging, range achievement rate exceeds 98%
In addition to a strong price, this car also has many selling points. In everyone's perception, with a budget of 100,000-150,000元, the pure electric models that can be bought generally have a range of only around 400 kilometers. So what kind of range can the AION RT offer everyone at this price point? The AION RT provides two range versions, 520km and 650km. Both battery packs use lithium iron phosphate battery packs supplied by CATL, giving better quality assurance. In addition, it integrates magazine battery technology, providing better assurance in terms of stability and reliability.
Moreover, long range is only one aspect. What is even more rare is that the range achievement rate is also quite impressive. In the media range achievement rate tests organized by AION RT before its launch, according to the actual test performance of many media outlets, this car's range achievement rate was as high as over 98%. Some media even measured a range exceeding the official claimed range, achieving a range figure of over 100%. Long range + an extremely high range achievement rate make travel more worry-free. It is also worth mentioning that this car comes standard across the entire lineup with 400V high-voltage fast charging, with fast charging power as high as 150kW, reaching a 3C charging rate. In 0.3 hours, it can charge 50% (30%-80%), making long-distance travel more convenient.
Technology equality, another trump card of the AION RT
To be fair, for pure electric sedans in the 100,000-150,000元 price range, it is quite difficult to break out. The fact that the AION RT can become a phenomenal hit immediately upon launch shows that it clearly has more than one trump card. Among them, technology equality is another major trump card of the AION RT. Do you still remember that costly lidar and advanced intelligent driving seemed to be configurations only luxury cars could enjoy? Now, at a price of 150,000元, the AION RT has already achieved it.
At this price point, most models still rely on pure vision route solutions to provide users with intelligent driving experiences, but pure vision solutions also have many inconveniences. For example, in rainy and snowy weather, at night, on roads with strong light, and under working conditions where road markings are unclear, pure vision solutions are obviously subject to certain limitations, and the reliability of intelligent driving is greatly reduced. The addition of lidar can effectively solve this problem, but its biggest shortcoming is its high cost. Therefore, among models under 200,000元, there are very few models that can be equipped with lidar, but the AION RT has clearly done it.
At the same time, the AION RT has also adopted the latest ADiGO 5.0 system, supporting a series of functions such as OTA upgrades, 4G network, mobile phone connectivity, in-car phone calls, and intelligent voice interaction, achieving a convenient and efficient human-machine interaction experience. The downward extension of high-level technological configurations such as advanced intelligent driving with lidar and intelligent cockpits makes the AION RT hard to rival in terms of intelligence and technological sophistication, or rather leaves competitors only able to look at its back.
In the wave of new energy vehicle design, the "faceless" design of some models is often criticized for lacking a sense of dimensionality, while "squinting-eye" headlights are also considered to lack a certain spirit. However, the appearance of the AION RT has brought something new to this phenomenon. It adopts a unique "phoenix eye" and "silkworm eyebrow" design, forming the so-called "dragon eye" shape. The front face design is three-dimensional and rounded, and the lines surrounding the headlights seem to add "eye shadow" to the eyes, while the design of the daytime running light group is like "silkworm eyebrows," giving the AION RT's headlights a unique charm.
The AION RT is jokingly called the "big-eyed little Panamera" because, when viewed from a 45-degree angle, it bears a striking resemblance to the Porsche Panamera, showing a similar excellence achieved through different means. The body's muscle lines present a "dragon head and swallow tail" fluid sculpture feel. The roofline contour is 3.48 meters long with no inflection point, forming a sharp contrast with the common large fastback design of coupes. The lines are "gentle first, then steep," and only after ensuring sufficient rear headroom does the C-pillar begin to drop noticeably, achieving an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.208Cd while also ensuring the largest rear space in its class. The AION RT cleverly integrates the three major elements of sedan design that are usually difficult to achieve at the same time: "styling, drag coefficient, and space," combining "art, sport, and practicality" in one, demonstrating the ingenuity and practicality of its design.
The rear design of the AION RT is equally outstanding. It does not blindly follow the currently popular through-type taillight design, but instead adopts segmented taillights, cleverly supplemented by a high-mounted brake light in the middle. This design is not only beautiful, safe, and eye-catching, but also has a personalized character. More importantly, it reflects the AION RT's economic practicality - when replacing a taillight, it is more economical and affordable, requiring only replacement of one side rather than the entire set.
The AION RT also puts great effort into its paint process. Compared with models in the same class, the AION RT has an extra layer of sparkling primer. Among the three body colors of Moonlight Beige, Corona Red, and Polar White, an additional layer of natural mica pearl paint is sprayed, with a thickness three times the industry average, and a glossiness comparable to that of a Panamera. While pearl paint from other brands usually requires an additional several thousand yuan for optional selection, the AION RT makes it a free standard feature. In addition, the three body colors of Crystal Purple, Sea Glow Gray, and Night Shadow Black add the same "silver dollar aluminum powder" as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Compared with low-cost flake aluminum powder, silver dollar aluminum powder is smoother and more delicate, and the cost and labor time for grinding and polishing are more than five times higher. The reflection effect is more gorgeous and can present a variety of dazzling colors as light changes. The AION RT's paint is not only lively but also full of power, and its saturation and pearlescent luster are unmatched by ordinary sedans, demonstrating its care and quality in details.
Class-above soft-wrapped large space, bringing a class-above comfortable riding experience
The Aion brand has always performed well in space design, and the same is true for the AION RT. Its rear headroom reaches 940mm, and rear legroom is 943mm; the front headroom and legroom also both exceed 1 meter. Such space performance can fully rival B-segment cars. Moreover, the AION RT's driving visibility is broad, almost comparable to that of an SUV.
In terms of rear passenger comfort, Aion has also done a lot of research. They believe that a seat height of 300mm and a hip angle of 90° are basic requirements, so the AION RT's seat height reaches 320mm, the highest in its class, and the hip angle is close to 95°. Such figures even surpass many luxury B-segment cars. You can also experience it in person at the store to see whether its comfort is truly as claimed.
In terms of seat materials, Aion has also put in a lot of thought. The interior of the AION RT's seats uses the only double-layer high-density foam filling in its class. The middle layer of foam is soft, providing an extremely strong sense of wrapping; the bottom layer of foam has moderate hardness, ensuring good support. In addition, 100% of the high-frequency contact areas inside the AION RT use soft-wrapped materials, enhancing the comfort and luxury of the interior from the details. Using the phrase "one more layer of care than its class, a few degrees higher in quality than its class, and a few degrees larger in space than its class" to describe the generous and comfortable experience the AION RT gives consumers is not an exaggeration at all.
The AION RT also has a special feature, which is that its front seats support one-touch folding, allowing the interior space to be easily transformed into a temporary "big bed room." This is very convenient for taking a nap in the car or for outdoor camping. At the same time, the AION RT's trunk design is also very practical. Not only is the space large, but the opening is also wide enough. The opening size reaches 470mm, making it easy to retrieve and place even luggage deep inside; the tailgate sill is as low as 670mm, making it convenient for women and children to lift and place items. The 540L trunk capacity can easily accommodate 4 24-inch suitcases plus 1 20-inch suitcase, meeting the storage needs of daily use and long-distance travel.
Final words: In the fiercely competitive auto market, every car's sales are achieved through hard power. With its people-friendly price, class-above configurations, class-above range capability, class-above space and riding experience, and solid range achievement rate, the AION RT has become the preferred choice in consumers' eyes. Now, with Spring Festival getting closer and closer, combined with current car purchase policies, buying the AION RT now is obviously a good choice!
