China's GAC delays U.S. launch...again

The company cited ongoing trade tensions between China and the U.S.

China's GAC Motor has once again delayed plans to enter the United States market, citing uncertainty in U.S.-China trade relations.

GAC was preparing to launch in the United States in early 2020, but the company says it has postponed those plans because of "the escalation of China-U.S. trade frictions” that could cause distribution "uncertainties,” according to Bloomberg. GAC has not announced a new target date for cracking the U.S. market.

The latest announcement marks GAC's second false start in the U.S. In late 2018 GAC was forced to punt on plans to launch here in 2019. It was at that time that GAC said it would launch in the U.S. in early 2020 instead.

A number of Chinese automakers have been eying the lucrative U.S. market but, at least so far, none have managed to setup shop in the world's second-largest car market. Zotye, along with Geely's Lynk & Co. brand, say they are on track to sell Chinese-built cars in the U.S. next year, but it's possible the ongoing trade dispute could derail those plans as well.