GAC has become quite the proponent for show cars and in recent years has trotted out multiple concepts across various vehicle segments. From minivans and sportscars, the design teams in China, Europe and the US are clearly an active bunch.

Its latest project, the ERA, is a result of a collaboration between those in Guangzhou, Los Angeles and Milan – and the car itself is a reflection of this, designed for a global audience. Described as a full-size all-wheel drive crossover SUV, the ERA features a dramatic, almost ’boat-tail’ rear end and stocky features. Like the Space concept, this is also an example of how hydrogen powertrains could be utilised. In theory, the 200kw motors located on the rear axle would offer around 540 horsepower and 800km of electric range. 

Pontus Fontaeus, director of the Advanced Design Los Angeles studio, notes that “despite challenges like time, distance and communication,” the ERA reflects how projects like this can be done effectively across multiple continents. Commenting on the car itself, Stéphane Janin, director of GAC Advanced Design Milan, describes it as ”both powerful and elegantly simple, harmonizing with the emerging era of clean technology and energy.”

To learn more about the ERA, Car Design News caught up with global head of design, Fan Zhang, 

What is the purpose behind the concept?

The ERA concept is more than just a vehicle; it’s a bold statement about the future of mobility, a symbol of GAC’s ambition to be a leader in automotive innovation, showcasing what’s possible when cutting-edge technology meets sophisticated design.

How did…