Huawei announces arrival in Europe, this time with its own Aito cars

Huawei is far from just consumer electronics. This Chinese giant is, among other things, intensely involved in the automotive sector. In addition to supplying infotainment and autopilot systems to some manufacturers, it is more deeply involved with certain brands. An example is the Aito brand, which is now also heading to the markets of the old continent.

A car from Huawei?

Huawei is not solely behind the creation of the Aito brand. It is part of the Seres group, where, incidentally, one of the founders and the very first CEO of Tesla Motors, Martin Eberhard, serves as head of development.

Aito is then part of an association of brands using Huawei technologies called the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance. Cars from brands under HIMA can be found in Huawei Stores in China – as I was able to personally verify a few months ago during a visit to a Huawei Store in Shanghai. Here I also encountered the Aito M5 and Aito M9 models, which are now preparing to enter selected European markets. The third model to join them is the Aito M8.

All three mentioned models are sold in their home country of China in fully electric and hybrid versions, and for now, it seems that only the hybrid version will likely be available in Europe initially. It’s not hard to guess why; vehicles from China using hybrid propulsion are subject to significantly lower import duties within the EU.

Specifically, these are EREVs (extended-range electric vehicles), meaning electric vehicles that use a smaller internal combustion engine exclusively as a generator for charging batteries. While an internal combustion engine is present, it does not directly power the wheels. All the mentioned models could benefit from a rather restrained design along with luxurious-looking interiors full of artificial leather and, of course, screens, to succeed in Europe.

A trio of SUVs with electric and hybrid powertrains

I had the opportunity to ride as a passenger in the Aito M7 model and I must admit that its comfortable massage seats definitely won me over. The sound insulation was also top-notch, and the initial impression of build quality was very decent. Only the suspension would have suited such a car better if it were more comfort-oriented; during the ride, it felt quite stiff even on good roads. But back to the models introduced in Munich.

Logically, the lowest-positioned is the Aito M5, a mid-size SUV with dimensions of 4785 / 1930 / 1625 mm and a wheelbase of 2,880 mm. The purely electric version of the Aito M5 will offer only rear-wheel drive with an output of 200 kW and an 83 kWh LFP battery. According to the CLTC methodology, it can travel up to 602 km – the reality will, of course, be lower, similar to the Xiaomi SU7. The hybrid version then offers the same 200 kW and rear-wheel drive but is also available in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version. Here, the combined output is 365 kW.

The more than five-meter SUV Aito M8 is offered in two interior configurations: a classic five-seater with two rows, or a six-seater with three rows. The purely electric rear-wheel-drive model will offer an output of 227 kW and a range of up to 705 km according to CLTC.

The more equipped all-wheel-drive version has 387 kW of power and a range of up to 655 km. In both cases, the car relies on a 100 kWh battery. The model with a turbocharged 1.5L engine then has an output of 392 kW, and the customer has a choice of two different battery capacities – on pure electric power, it can travel 201 or 310 km.

The flagship model is the Aito M9, which, in addition to generous space and also two layout variants, offers a true touch of luxury both inside and out. Besides large infotainment displays for the driver and an entertainment center for the front passenger, it can also offer, for example, a projection screen for rear passengers. The fully electric variant offers two motors with a combined output of 390 kW, while the hybrid has 365 kW and a range of up to 290 km without needing to start the internal combustion engine.

Aito car prices in China

If you are interested in the approximate prices of such cars in their home country, you will find them below. However, it is necessary to add that the potential price in Europe will be significantly higher not only due to import costs and duties. Unfortunately, specific prices and vehicle availability in Europe are not yet known at this time.

• Aito M5 approximately 673 to 730 thousand CZK without VAT
• Aito M8 approximately 1.05 to 1.3 million CZK without VAT
• Aito M9 approximately 1.38 to 1.67 million CZK without VAT

How do you like Aito cars from Huawei?

Sources: ArenaEV.com, CarNewsChina.com