China’s GAC Targets International Growth

China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) is creating two new units to manage and grow its overseas business.

GAC Motor International Co. will oversee the carmaker’s global subsidiaries, regional offices, assembly plants and technical operations. Another unit, GAC Motor International (HK) Ltd., will manage the company's export business.

GAC aims to expand its sales base from 14 countries today to 18 by year-end. The plan calls for regional offices in Africa, the Middle East, Russia and South America.

To support its growth, GAC will hold its third overseas talent recruitment tour in Europe this summer, with events planned for Munich, Paris and Stuttgart. The company says it is looking for engineers, designers, production management and marketing personnel.

GAC also will have display booths at upcoming auto shows in Moscow, Paris and Los Angeles in August, October and November, respectively. Earlier this year, the Chinese company exhibited at the Detroit auto show and participated at the National Automobile Dealers Assn. conference in Las Vegas.

GAC aims to launch its GS8 midsize SUV/crossover in the U.S. by the end of 2019. The vehicle is the top-selling, domestic-badged 7-seat SUV in China, according to the carmaker. The company also makes the GA4 small car, GM8 minivan, GS4 crossover and is preparing to launch several new models.

GAC Motor was founded in 2008 a subsidiary of conglomerate GAC Group.