If the letters GT still make you think of big-power luxury coupes like the Bentley Continental GT, Honda’s new model of the same name might not exactly light your fire. But if you love the idea of a sharp-looking affordable family EV with coupe aspirations and think too much screen is not enough, you’ll find plenty to like in the two Hondas revealed at this week’s Shanghai Auto Show.

The GAC Honda GT (seen here in red) and its Dongfeng Honda GT brother (blue) are fundamentally the same car. They’re built at the same factory in China for the Chinese market, but it’s easy to see how they could work in the US, too, if it wasn’t for the current tariff situation.

Related: Honda Takes On BYD With New Ye EV Brand, Shows SUVs And GT Concept

Both cars get an H logo (minus any backing badge) below their blacked-out hoods and the Honda name on the front doors. But while the Dongfeng goes for Lamborghini Revuelto-style Y-shaped DRLs and taillights, the GAC opts for two-deck front LEDs and keeps the rears on the level.

Camera-based door mirrors are also present, and the digital screens displaying those exterior images are just two of the six crammed into the hi-tech interior. The remaining four include a digital gauge pack mounted high on the dash, a traditional central touchscreen, a phone-shaped touchscreen below it – presumably for climate duties – and another screen on the passenger side of the car that’s much bigger and uglier than any other passenger displays we’ve seen.

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The GTs are the second wave of Honda Ye EVs designed specifically for China. And while Honda hasn’t revealed any powertrain details, we can take a guess based on the first Ye cars, the S7 and P7 crossovers, which debuted in production form last year when the GT was still just a concept.

Those EVs make 268 hp (272 PS / 200 kW) in single-motor, RWD form, or 469 hp (476 PS / 350 kW) when equipped with dual motors and all-wheel drive. Some Chinese media reports claim the GTs will also get single and dual-motor variants, and the single-motor versions will have 50:50 weight distribution. Is the GT the kind of car you’d like to see Honda offer in Europe, Australia, and North America?

Images: Honda/GAC/Dongfeng

China’s auto industry is massive, fast-moving, and at times nearly impossible to follow without a flowchart and a magnifying glass. Even major Western players like Toyota and Volkswagen, both deeply entrenched in the market, operate multiple joint ventures that churn out overlapping models.

With hundreds of brands—many state-owned—jostling for space in an increasingly competitive market, the Chinese government is now pushing for a more streamlined approach. The aim is to consolidate key state-backed automakers to boost efficiency, reduce redundancy, and accelerate the country’s shift to electric vehicles.

Read: China’s Dongfeng Launches $25,000 Nammi Box EV In Europe

While speaking at a recent event in Beijing, the vice chairman of China’s state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council called for automakers to restructure and realign operations. By pooling development and manufacturing resources, the thinking goes, these companies could become more competitive, especially against agile private-sector brands.

The commission oversees approximately 100 state-owned enterprises, such as Chongqing Changan Automobile, Dongfeng Motor Corp, and China FAW Group, Nikkei Asia reports.

Back in February, South China Morning Post reported that the government was considering placing Dongfeng and Changan under a single holding group. If that happens, the merged entity could surpass BYD and become China’s largest EV manufacturer, a significant shift in the landscape.

“The restructuring, if it materialises, would be a big step towards industry consolidation and of great importance to China’s auto industry for the longer term,” a Morgan Stanley analyst said of the potential deal.

Momentum Behind Consolidation

Last year, Changan sold 2.68 million vehicles, while Dongfeng sold 2.48 million. However, they have not kept pace with BYD in the transition to EVs, and missed their sales targets for EVs last year.

Ivan Li, a fund manager at Loyal Wealth Management, noted, “The two companies’ announcements apparently point to a potential merger of the state-owned parents, though they did not give a clear-cut word on it.” He added that the government likely sees consolidation as a way to reduce internal competition and better position the sector for long-term success.

Joint Ventures Still Play a Key Role

Despite underwhelming EV performance, both companies remain deeply integrated into China’s broader automotive ecosystem. Dongfeng maintains joint ventures with Nissan, Honda, Peugeot, and Citroen, while Changan partners with Ford and Mazda. These alliances may complicate any merger, but they also highlight the strategic value of both companies in the global market.

Honda is betting on automation and artificial intelligence to transform its EV production process in China, reducing its need for floor staff by a hefty 30%. While robots haven’t yet fully replaced human workers, the tech Honda is rolling out—along with similar efforts from companies like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Dongfeng—suggests a future that might not be so bright for blue-collar workers.

The Japanese automaker recently kicked off production of the all-electric Ye P7 with local joint venture partner Guangzhou Automobile Group. The factory in Guangzhou uses automated guided vehicles, or AGVs, to move important car components throughout the factory, including heavy battery packs. Traditionally, human workers are required to transport parts throughout the factory.

Read: Honda Wants To Crack China’s EV Market With New Ye P7 Dual-Motor Crossover

In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Honda revealed that it’s also using AI to fine-tune the welding process for the Ye P7. The goal? To “reduce fixed costs as much as possible.” The company sees “electrification as an opportunity to overhaul the way we produce vehicles”—a chance to reimagine everything from the ground up.

The Ye P7 is an important vehicle for Honda. In most Western markets, the Japanese car manufacturer has lagged behind many of its competitors in releasing battery-electric vehicles that appeal to the masses. Given that China has quickly become the world’s single largest EV market, the automaker cannot afford to fall behind the competition, or else it could see its Chinese sales dry up.

Much like the S7 introduced earlier this month and built with Dongfeng, the P7 has an 89.8 kWh battery pack, and base models feature a rear motor with 268 hp. A dual-motor version is also available, boasting a combined 469 hp. Rear-wheel drive models have a quoted range of 404 miles (650 km) while the all-wheel drive version can apparently travel up to 385 miles (620 km) between charges.

It’s been eight months since Honda previewed its China-only Ye S7, and now the production version has officially arrived. As the Japanese brand continues its push upmarket in various regions, this all-electric SUV doesn’t try to compete with the bargain-bin electric crossovers flooding the market. Instead, it’s aiming for something a bit more premium, but still relatively affordable, at least by American standards. The S7 starts at ¥259,900, which comes to about $35,800.

More: Toyota’s $15,000 Electric SUV Gets 10,000 Orders In Just 60 Minutes In China

Interestingly, the production model has dropped the ‘Ye’ from its name and is simply called the S7. It’s no Lamborghini Urus, but for a Honda, it’s a surprisingly daring design. In fact, it stands out in a way that no other Honda sold in markets outside of China does, which will help it cut through the noise of China’s crowded car market. The S7 is the product of Honda’s joint venture with Dongfeng and is set to compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y, the Onvo L60, and the Zeekr 7X.

Powertrains and Range Options

At its core, the S7 is built on a dedicated EV platform and comes equipped with an 89.8 kWh battery pack. The base model features a single electric motor that delivers a modest 268 horsepower (200 kW) to the rear wheels. While not exactly thrilling, that output should be more than enough for everyday driving, and the more affordable variant has a claimed range of 404 miles (650 km) on the Chinese CLTC cycle.

For those craving more performance, there’s a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version. This ups the ante by adding a 201-horsepower (150 kW) motor to the front axle, pushing total output to a more impressive 469 hp (350 kW). While that extra power and weight decrease the range to 385 miles (620 km), it’s still more than sufficient for most drivers.

In terms of dimensions, the S7 is 4,750 mm (187.0 inches) long, 1,930 mm (75.98 inches) wide, and 1,625 mm (64.02 inches) tall, riding on a relatively large 2,930 mm (115.4 inches) wheelbase, with a minimum ground clearance of 193 mm (7.6 inches). This puts the S7 in the range of your average compact SUV for exterior dimensions, but with a wheelbase that’s closer to, or even longer than, that of many mid-size SUVs. For comparison, the Honda Pilot has a shorter 113.8-inch (2,891 mm) wheelbase.

Inside, the S7 leans heavily into tech and luxury. The centerpiece is a 12.8-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen perched in the center of the dashboard. Just ahead of the driver, there’s a 9.9-inch digital instrument cluster, and gone are the traditional wing mirrors, replaced by cameras and screens mounted on the doors.

The cabin of the electric Honda also features twin glass roof panels for that open, airy feel, and if you’re an audiophile, you can opt for a 16-speaker Bose sound system with speakers in the front headrests. While the luxury touches are nice, they’re not exactly groundbreaking, but they should appeal to buyers looking for something a bit more refined in the electric SUV space.