GAC Motor is shaping up to be the first major Chinese automaker to launch in the United States.
The state-owned company, which operates the Gonow and Trumpchi brands, on Friday confirmed plans to enter the U.S. market by the end of 2019, The New York Times reports.
The first model to arrive will be the Trumpchi GS8, although GAC is likely to introduce a new brand to sell the cars under given the similarity between Trumpchi and President Donald Trump’s surname.
The similarity is merely a coincidence as Trumpchi has been operating since 2010. The name is meant to mimic the Chinese name Chuanqi, but also resonate with people outside of China. The “trump” portion was selected to signify the best or winning, while “chi” is meant to signify the brand’s home of China.
The Trumpchi GS8 is a mid-size SUV with third-row seats. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 which is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system.
