GUANGZHOU, China, July 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first half of 2026, GAC's overseas wholesale and end-user retail volumes doubled year-on-year. Total exports reached 121,483 units, nearly matching the full-year export volume of last year, with a significant 132% year-on-year increase, marking a major milestone.
GAC achieved robust growth across all regions. In the Americas, Mexico delivered outstanding performance, with the AION ES and AION UT securing spots in the top ten in BEV sales rankings. Bolivia sustained its leading position as the top-selling Chinese passenger brand. Brazil, Colombia and other countries also recorded strong growth. In Asia-Pacific, Hong Kong SAR saw GAC claim the No.1 sales position for private EVs in April after subsidy phase-out, with cumulative market share from January to May exceeding 11%. Singapore ranked second among pure EV brands in April with nearly 7% share, and Thailand maintained its No.1 share in the electric taxi segment. Malaysia and Indonesia also posted notable growth. Europe accelerated its strategic expansion: the AION UT started production in Austria and made its European debut in Milan, followed by official entries into the UK and Spain, establishing an initial full-chain operation system. In the Middle East and Africa, the EMZOOM ranked first in Lebanon's B-segment SUV market, and the Middle East region saw a substantial year-on-year increase in cumulative sales.
GAC also earned global recognition for quality and strength. In Kuwait, it earned two No.1 titles for best overall vehicle quality and highest residual value among Chinese automakers. In Thailand, GAC led all Chinese brands in three-year residual value. The AION UT continued its hot streak, taking No.1 sales position in the pure electric hatchback in Hong Kong SAR, Colombia, Uruguay and Singapore, with over 600 pre-orders in Australia, and winning multiple awards including Bolivia's Best-Selling BEV and the top spot in export growth for Chinese A0 electric hatchbacks in May. The AION V also hit new overseas sales highs, was shortlisted for Drive's Car of the Year 2026, and won "No.1 Elite Electric SUV" in Hong Kong SAR.
Wrapping up the first half with an outstanding performance scorecard, GAC International is accelerating its global expansion with unstoppable momentum.
For further information about GAC, please visit: https://www.gacgroup.com/en or follow us on social.
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GAC International Posts First-Half Results with Outstanding Performance
AUSTIN, Texas, July 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saronic today announced it has selected Brownsville, Texas as the future home of Port Alpha, its next-generation shipyard designed to help restore American maritime strength and significantly expand the nation's shipbuilding capacity.
The announcement marks a major milestone in Saronic's mission to restore U.S. shipbuilding capacity at scale. First introduced as a vision for the future of maritime manufacturing, Port Alpha now moves from concept to reality through a planned investment of more than $3 billion that aims to establish one of the most advanced shipyards in the world, built for software-defined shipbuilding and autonomous maritime systems.
The project is expected to generate more than $160 billion in regional economic impact for Cameron County and $264.5 billion for the State of Texas, while creating up to 10,000 direct jobs. This makes Port Alpha one of the largest economic development projects in modern Texas history. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2026, with Port Alpha expected to open for operations in 2028.
The timing is pivotal. In one of his first actions in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Restoring America's Maritime Dominance, followed by federal initiatives such as the SHIPS for America Act and the Maritime Action Plan that call for a generational rebuild of the American shipbuilding industry. These efforts recognize that economic security and national security are inseparable, and that restoring U.S. shipbuilding capacity is essential to both. Port Alpha will expand domestic production capacity and strengthen the nation's ability to meet commercial and defense requirements while closing the widening shipbuilding gap with foreign adversaries.
"America's maritime future depends on our ability to build again," said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and CEO of Saronic. "Port Alpha is our commitment to that mission. Built from the ground up to deliver ships at a speed and scale not seen since World War II, this investment is about more than constructing a shipyard. It is about rebuilding the industrial capacity, workforce, and manufacturing advantage required to ensure American maritime leadership for decades to come. The state of Texas and city of Brownsville give us the foundation to turn that vision into reality."
Following a year-long nationwide search evaluating sites across the East, West, and Gulf Coasts, Brownsville was selected after a rigorous review of workforce availability, infrastructure readiness, land scale, logistics, and expansion potential. Initially situated on 835 acres at the Port of Brownsville, with the opportunity to expand to nearly 4,400 acres, Port Alpha will encompass a shipyard and manufacturing facility capable of producing vessels up to 850-ft. Future site expansion could support the production of vessels over 1,200 ft. The site provides hundreds of acres of waterfront access, deepwater channel connectivity, multimodal logistics infrastructure, and room for long-term expansion—everything required to anchor a next-generation shipbuilding hub.
"Today marks history with the announcement of the most advanced shipyard in the entire world," said Governor Abbott. "When this shipyard gets fully built out, there will be about 10,000 employees. Saronic is going to be providing about $750 million in annual paychecks to Texans. That's game-changing for the population of Texas. As Governor, I'm proud that Saronic calls Texas home."
Over the next decade, Port Alpha is expected to create up to 10,000 high-quality direct jobs spanning skilled trades such as welding and machining to advanced roles in robotics, software engineering, and naval architecture. The project aligns with national calls to rebuild the maritime workforce pipeline, creating new opportunities for skilled workers at the intersection of shipbuilding and advanced technology. Saronic will collaborate with the State of Texas, Cameron County, and local educational institutions – from regional technical colleges to leading State universities and institutions – to develop workforce training and apprenticeship programs designed to sustain long-term industrial growth and position South Texas as a center of excellence for advanced maritime manufacturing.
Port Alpha builds on Saronic's expanding shipbuilding footprint. In early 2025, the company acquired a shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, where it is investing $300 million to add 300,000 square feet of production capacity. That facility will continue producing Saronic's 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel, which was designed and launched in less than one year. Together, these facilities represent a multi-billion-dollar private capital commitment to restoring American shipbuilding capacity, advancing autonomous maritime systems, and strengthening the nation's industrial resilience.
More than a shipyard, Port Alpha represents a new model for American shipbuilding—combining advanced manufacturing, software-defined production, and autonomy at unprecedented scale. To sustain that edge, Saronic is forging strategic partnerships with leading manufacturers, emerging shipbuilding technology providers, and premier suppliers, ensuring that the latest capabilities continuously strengthen and inform Port Alpha's production architecture alongside Saronics' in-house expertise. In doing so, Port Alpha embodies the transformation envisioned in national maritime strategy, one that leverages technology to strengthen deterrence, resilience, and operational flexibility. As construction advances, Saronic will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to establish the industrial foundation required for the next generation of maritime power in America.
Contact: press@saronic.com
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Saronic to Build Port Alpha, America's Next Generation Shipyard, in Brownsville, Texas
