Huawei-backed Aito will launch battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants of its M8 SUV (sport utility vehicle) in August, set to intensify competition in the pure electric SUV market.
Aito, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, announced the plan today, which will come after Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) launch the Li i8 on July 29 and Nio's (NYSE: NIO) sub-brand Onvo launch the L90 by the end of this month.
Aito launched the M8 on April 16, a mid-to-large-size SUV and the brand's fourth model, initially offering only extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants with a starting price of RMB 359,800 ($50,150).
The BEV variants of the Aito M8 will offer both five-seat and six-seat configurations, similar to the EREV variants. Their dimensions are 5,190 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and 1,795 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,105 mm, identical to the EREV variants.
These BEV variants will be built on Huawei's Giant Whale 800-volt high-voltage platform, featuring a 100-kWh battery pack from CATL, with a CLTC range of up to 705 kilometers, Aito announced today.
The Aito M8 BEV also features a 192-channel main LiDAR from Huawei, one rear-facing high-precision solid-state LiDAR, and five 4D millimeter-wave radars, supporting active safety, smart driving assistance, and intelligent parking assistance.
Aito said that these BEV variants will be equipped with an extra-large frunk, which is also one of the main selling points of the Onvo L90.
Since its launch in April, the Aito M8 EREV has received a positive reception.
On May 21, Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) business announced that cumulative firm orders for the Aito M8 exceeded 80,000 units 34 days after its launch.
Earlier today, Richard Yu, Huawei's executive director and chairman of the consumer business group, said on Weibo that the Aito M8 delivered over 20,000 units in June, making it the sales champion in the RMB-400,000-class segment.
The Aito M8's ultra-long-range pure electric versions will launch in August, offering a frunk, better quietness, and lower ownership costs, providing family users with an additional option, Yu said.
The Aito M8 EREV offers two battery pack capacities: 52 kWh and 36 kWh, with three battery ranges: 235 km, 240 km, and 161 km. When fully fueled and charged, the model achieves a combined range of up to 1,526 kilometers.
Before the launch of the Aito M8 BEV, Li Auto will roll out its first electric SUV, the Li i8, on July 29, with pre-sales beginning on July 17.
Onvo will officially launch the L90 by the end of this month. The all-electric large SUV began pre-sales on July 10, with a starting price of RMB 279,900 including an 85-kWh battery pack.
($1 = RMB 7.1749)
