Guangzhou, China -- September 01, 2026 -- GAC has launched the S7 hybrid SUV in Kazakhstan as its first locally assembled model under a knocked-down production agreement with ALLUR Group. The vehicle is built at ALLUR's Kostanay facility and marks GAC's shift from pure vehicle exports to localized manufacturing, sales and service in the country. GAC International and ALLUR Group signed the KD production cooperation agreement in Guangzhou in February 2026, with the deal made public on April 16, 2026.
GAC described Kazakhstan as a strategic entry point for Central Asia and the wider CIS region. The company cited market data showing Chinese automotive brands' combined share of the Kazakh market rose from 3.8% in 2020 to 38.5% in 2025, a shift that has drawn multiple manufacturers into local assembly deals rather than straight exports.
ALLUR brings 125,000-unit annual capacity to the partnership
GAC and GAC Kazakhstan describe ALLUR as a leading automotive manufacturing and distribution group in the country, with annual production capacity exceeding 125,000 vehicles. That scale gives GAC a manufacturing partner capable of supporting volume beyond a single model, and the companies have said the cooperation is set to expand to a wider GAC lineup covering internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicles.
GAC Kazakhstan names the S7 its official market re-entry model
GAC Kazakhstan says the S7 serves as the first model for the brand's renewed official presence in the country, replacing a prior export-only approach with a locally built product line. The Kostanay assembly line ties GAC's Kazakh operations directly to ALLUR's existing manufacturing footprint rather than relying on imported knocked-down kits sold through third-party dealers.
Launch drive near Kapchagay Reservoir tested all-wheel-drive systems
GAC and ALLUR ran a media driving program near the Kapchagay Reservoir, with routes built to show the S7's all-wheel-drive performance, suspension control and ride comfort across paved and uneven terrain. Local coverage placed additional presentation activity in the Almaty region and the Konaev area, extending the launch beyond a single site.
The S7 rollout gives ALLUR a new hybrid SUV entry at a point when Chinese brands have already captured more than a third of Kazakhstan's auto market, and it gives GAC a manufacturing base positioned to serve demand across Central Asia and the CIS without relying solely on cross-border shipments.