Gonow. Typical Chinese automaker
Gonow (Zhejiang Gonow Auto) is a Chinese manufacturer of passenger cars and commercial vehicles based in Zhejiang Province. It designs, manufactures and sells its products under the GAC Gonow brand in China and under the Gonow brand in other markets. Now the company exports its cars to more than 80 countries on all continents. Among them are France, Czech Republic, Italy, Romania, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, UAE, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Morocco, etc. The company employs more than 3,000 people, 500 of which are advanced engineers and highly skilled experts. The brand’s dealer network includes more than 300 centers in China and about 200 abroad. The company’s vehicles are popular due to their high quality, reliability and affordability.
Steps to success
Gonow was founded in 2003 and immediately produced 60 thousand Gonow AGE cars in the first year. The newcomer to the Chinese car market turned out to be very dynamic and promising. Without wasting any time, the company established a vehicle development center together with Wuhan University of Technology.
In 2006, Gonow formed a JV with the Italian company DR Motor Company SpA and entered the EU market with its Katay Gonow Troy pickup (it was renamed GAC Gonow GA200 in 2012). The brand’s vehicle became the first Chinese vehicle to not only take part in the FIA World Championship, but also score points. Controlled by the Italians, the Chinese team took 8th place in the Ecorally San Marino-Vatican FIA Cup for alternative energy sources.
In 2010, the company became part of the automotive giant, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC), which acquired a controlling 51% stake in Gonow and later bought out the remaining 49%. As a subsidiary of GAC, Gonow produces about 200,000 pickups and SUVs a year and about 60,000 more car engines. The most popular brand models in China are Gonow Troy pickups, Jetstar, Coxswain, Kylin SUVs.
Vehicles
Like almost any Chinese automobile company, Gonow offers a large selection of different models. Basically, these are the same type of SUVs, pickups and minivans with average dynamic characteristics, but richly equipped, although without advanced technologies. During the two decades of the company’s operation, a lot of Gonow cars have been delivered to Europe. The most famous are the GA200 pickup (aka Troy) and the GX6 4×4 SUV.
Gonow GA200 pickup (aka Troy)
A double cab pickup capable of transporting up to 750 kg. Equipped with all-wheel drive and low gears, it handles well rough terrain. This is a great affordable pickup for work, but you need to remember that it lacks modern driver-assistance devices.
Gonow GX6 4×4 SUV
This is a large and spacious SUV, ascetic, but relatively cheap. It comes with a 2-liter gasoline 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with a capacity of 126 hp, which can also be in the liquefied gas version.
