Gu Huinan: Not Afraid of Market Conditions, GAC Aion Awaits the Right IPO Opportunity

According to a report on PulseStacks on March 19, "Now is not a favorable time for IPOs, and the progress of GAC Aion depends on whether the market can recover in the near future," said Gu Huinan, General Manager of GAC Aion and head of the Haobo brand, at the Electric Vehicle Hundred People Forum on March 17. "The IPO of GAC Aion is not just about raising funds; it's about addressing institutional issues, and that's the core." In today's speech, he assessed that this year is the breakout year for Level 3 autonomous driving. "On one hand, the government also hopes to promote this industry, aiming to officially introduce corresponding regulations for Level 3 this year; secondly, after testing for a period of time, restrictions will be lifted, presenting an opportunity this year." At the same time, he believes that 2026 will be the breakout year for Level 4 autonomous driving. "Our goal is to mass-produce Level 4 autonomous driving products by 2026. Whether they meet market demands or become mainstream trends, that certainly remains to be seen."

Regarding the price war in the automotive market, Gu Huinan stated, "If you want to eat this meal, you have to face competition, and you shouldn't be afraid of it. I also specifically mentioned that within competition, there are opportunities. Where is this opportunity? In the Chinese market, where domestic brands have such a high market share, we have the opportunity and the strength to expand overseas. However, venturing abroad from China still faces significant obstacles; it's not that simple."

He emphasized, "We must have a consensus that China's current leadership in new energy does not mean it will always lead. Don't assume that everyone has succeeded overnight and the market has completely liberalized; it's not that simple. Secondly, are we prepared to go abroad?"

As for how GAC Aion participates in this competition, Gu Huinan mentioned that for managing a brand, one must build competitiveness across six dimensions:

1. Research and development capabilities, whether they are sufficient to support current competition;
2. Manufacturing capabilities. "Quality, cost, product strength, and delivery will build your core competitiveness."
3. Product matrix;
4. A stable and reliable industrial chain;
5. Marketing services;
6. Organizational culture and system. Currently, GAC Aion has achieved flattened management, specialized operations, and project-driven operations through mixed ownership reform, improving organizational efficiency by 90%, and adopting a more market-oriented corporate governance structure and shareholder framework.

Competition among car companies is comprehensive and systemic. He mentioned that selling a few cars alone cannot survive the stage of price wars. "In the future, whether a brand can survive, the first question is whether it performs well across these six dimensions. Otherwise, boasting won't last beyond a couple of years. The perspective of capitalists is undoubtedly unique. Although they may not necessarily invest only when a company excels in these six dimensions, they know when to exit."