- The launch of the updated Aito M9 coincides with the roll-out of Nio's new flagship electric SUV, the ES9.
- With a pre-sales starting price of 499,800 yuan ($73,370), the updated M9 is one of the most expensive models in the Chinese market.
Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) announced Wednesday that Aito will officially launch its highly anticipated next-generation M9 sport utility vehicle (SUV) lineup on May 27, with an event scheduled to begin in Shenzhen at 7 pm Beijing Time.
Pre-orders for the vehicle opened on March 4. It is available in two variants: a standard-size model and an Ultimate extended version, with pre-sales prices starting at 499,800 yuan ($73,370) and 669,800 yuan, respectively, making it one of the most expensive offerings in China.
Cumulative pre-orders for the updated M9 have surpassed 50,000 units since the pre-sales began, Richard Yu, Huawei's executive director, said Monday on social media platform Weibo.
More than 40% of customers opted for the higher-priced Ultimate version, a figure that far exceeded expectations, Yu said.
This demonstrates that despite an intense price war in China's overall electric vehicle market, flagship models equipped with advanced intelligent features continue to command strong brand premiums and market appeal.
Notably, Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) is also scheduled to officially launch its new flagship electric SUV, the ES9, in Beijing on the same day. The company has not yet announced the start time for its launch event.
The next-generation M9 features significant technical upgrades, boasting more than 140 innovations. Among these features is the debut of an industry-leading fully active suspension system, a first under the HIMA business.
The active suspension system can proactively sense and adjust suspension settings using predictive road-scanning technology, balancing handling and ride comfort under complex road conditions.
The new vehicle also offers greater flexibility in its interior layout, with five- and six-seat configurations, and its dimensions have been further increased compared to the current model.
The vehicle will debut with Huawei's newly developed ADS 5.0 autonomous driving system and offers an optional 896-channel image-grade LiDAR sensor, which boasts the highest specifications globally.
This sensor delivers image-grade perception capabilities, enabling precise detection of small obstacles from over 120 meters away and significantly improving automatic obstacle avoidance safety during high-speed driving, according to Huawei.
The updated M9's powertrain has also been optimized. Built entirely on an 800-volt high-voltage platform, the lineup features high-capacity battery packs manufactured by CATL (HKEX: 3750) .
It continues to offer both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) options, with the EREV variant achieving a maximum combined range of 1,474 kilometers on a full tank and full charge.
As of early March this year, cumulative deliveries of the Aito M9 have surpassed 280,000 units, making it one of the most commercially successful cases in Huawei's smart car selection business.
($1 = 6.8119 yuan)
