China's GAC targets Europe as new market

Chinese automaker GAC Motor will use the Paris auto show to showcase its plans to launch in Europe.

The company will unveil a new model called the A10 at the show. The company will also display the Enverge electric car concept that premiered at the Detroit show in January

GAC has said it plans to enter the U.S. market next year with the GS8 seven-seat SUV next year.

GAC has targeted Europe and the U.S. as part of its global expansion strategy. In June, it said its career fairs in Stuttgart, Munich and Paris this year attracted more than 700 applicants. GAC offered positions in vehicle engineering, process and technology, management and marketing.

GAC gave no details of the A10 ahead of its Oct. 2 unveiling in Paris.

It said it will also reveal details about its global branding strategy at the show. In China, GAC cars are sold under the Trumpchi and Gonow brands.

GAC sells cars in 15 markets outside of China including Nigeria, Chile, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia. At the Moscow show in August, the automaker said it will start sales in Russia next year

Toyota tie-up

In China, GAC Motor, a division of China's Guangzhou Automobile Group, has joint ventures with Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Toyota and GAC are cooperating to launch electric cars, giving GAC access to the Japanese automaker's stringent quality control and Toyota access to GAC's lower-cost technology, Bloomberg reported earlier this year.