Chinese Carmaker GAC Enters North America Through a Partnership With Stellantis
Chinese car manufacturer GAC joins the North American market, under the Dodge name
by Dim Angelov, onChinese manufacturers have come a long way in a short amount of time, and while the majority of them are still exclusive to the Chinese market, their eventual expansion towards North America was a logical step. On 30 September, GAC announced it will be exporting SUV models to Mexico. However, it will be selling its models under the Dodge brand through an established partnership with Stellantis. What will that mean for future Dodge products?
The agreement between GAC and Stellantis is mutually beneficial, since the 2022 Dodge Journey, intended for the Mexican market, will be based on GAC’s vehicles design and even manufactured in the Chinese company’s Hangzhou factory. At the same time, Stellantis is struggling to sell vehicles from its Jeep brand on the Chinese market, and even closed down one of its two China-based factories in March 2021.
GAC is one of the few state-owned Chinese car companies that aim to create a global model lineup. In the case of GAC, however, they are establishing their North American foothold by offering not their own models, under a different name, but their partner’s models. Moreover, they have decided to do so with the all-new, 2022 Dodge Journey, as the seventh-seater, family SUV, sold in Europe as the Fiat Freemont, was in desperate need of a new successor.
Like other Chinese car manufacturers, GAC has had its sights set on the US market. Their efforts were halted due to Trump’s administration, which imposed heavy tariffs on import goods from various countries, including China. The goal is for GAC to strengthen its partnership with Stellantis and "continue to explore the Mexican market, and radiate to surrounding areas to lay a foundation for further cultivation of the North American region."
GAC already has seven models on sale in China, among which, a sedan, MPV, compact crossovers, and SUVs of various sizes, with more on the way. The company is also taking serious steps in electrification. A great example is the GAC GS8, full-size SUV, which borrows hybrid technology from Toyota and even utilizes an Aisin, eight-speed automatic, with Toyota being a major shareholder in the gearbox manufacturer.
What do we know about the 2022 Dodge Journey?
The 2022 Dodge Journey, which would serve as GAC’s foothold in the North American market, in Mexico, is actually a rebadged Trumpchi GS5. An Instagram post from autocosmos, shared by Mopar insiders, reveals that there will be three versions of the "Dodge Journey," all of which feature a 1.5-liter, turbocharged inline-four. At least one of these versions is expected to offer a hybrid powertrain, with a fully electric version to join them sometime later. In the Chinese-offered Trumpchi GS5, the engine is good for 169 horsepower (124 kilowatts) at 5,000 RPM and 195 pound-feet (265 Nm) at 4,000 RPM, while mated to a six-speed automatic.
| Engine | 1.5-liter, turbocharged inline-four |
|---|---|
| Power | 169 HP @ 5,000 RPM |
| Torque | 195 LB-FT @ 4,000 RPM |
| Transmission | six-speed automatic |
While far from impressive, the 2022 Dodge Journey comes with better performance than the 2020 Dodge Journey while being more compact. At 106.7 inches (2,710 mm), the wheelbase of the 2022 model is 7.1 inches (180 mm) shorter than the old model. Dimensions-wise, the new Journey measures 184.8 inches (4,695 mm) in length, 74.2 inches (1,885 mm) in width, and 68-inches (1,726 mm) in height, which makes it slightly wider and taller than the 2020 model.
| Wheelbase | 106.7 inches (2,710 mm) |
|---|---|
| Length | 184.8 inches (4,695 mm) |
| Width | 74.2 inches (1,885 mm) |
| Height | 68-inches (1,726 mm) |
What does this mean for Dodge?
Dodge is synonymous with the Challenger and Charger and, unfortunately for many, we know that the days of the big, supercharged V-8 engines are numbered. We know Dodge is working on an electric "Muscle" car, said to debut in 2024. The company is yet to reveal a dedicated EV platform, but rumors suggest the so-called "electric muscle car" will still utilize that old Mercedes platform.
With that being said, Stellantis already has four dedicated EV platforms, which would support 2.0 million vehicles a year, each, according to Reuters. At this point, it is unknown whether or not any of these platforms has been developed with performance in mind, but the latest developments concerning GAC and Stellantis could be the basis for a jointly-developed EV platform, with performance in mind.
Conclusion
I would have been laughed at about ten years ago for saying this, but Chinese manufacturers may be the ones to look out for in the near future. Many of them spare no expense in developing high-quality products, and they are certainly not lagging behind on the electrification front. In addition, GAC’s decision to secure a partnership with Toyota for the aforementioned GS8 SUV is a sound one as the Japanese brand has a proven sales and reliability record in the North American market. Could this mean that a future, electric "Muscle" car from Dodge may score an electric powertrain from Toyota?