Dongfeng Fengxing has launched the Xinghai V6, a large six-seat battery-electric SUV that brings Huawei's Qiankun intelligent driving system to the 100,000-yuan price bracket. The model, unveiled on September 19, targets families seeking verified high-end smart-driving features at a mainstream price point, according to Sina Auto.
Bringing Huawei ADAS to the masses
The Xinghai V6 is positioned as a "smart and affordable" product, a role Dongfeng Fengxing plays within the wider Dongfeng Group. The company's marketing director, Chen Zhengyu, said the decision to partner with Huawei was driven by consumer demand: "From our research, consumers want good ADAS, but it's hard to find suitable products on the market." He noted that by 2026, ADAS penetration in premium vehicles could approach 70%, but the 100,000-150,000 yuan segment, the largest in China, remains underserved.
To make this possible, Dongfeng Fengxing leveraged Huawei's IPD (Integrated Product Development) process, which it adopted in 2019, and the group's massive annual procurement scale of millions of vehicles. The company also used a "business plan" approach with suppliers, personally pitching the project to over 100 component makers across six cities. This helped secure pricing typically reserved for high-volume models. "We didn't just lower the price of a 200,000-yuan product; we redefined the product from scratch for 100,000-yuan families," said product director Pan Wenjun.
The result is a vehicle with a 4.8-metre body that offers a "large six-seat" layout, including a third row that folds flat and a 70-litre front trunk. Pan explained that integrated design reduced the number of coolant hoses in the engine bay from 22 to six, cutting costs and weight. The car also features a six-in-one electric drive unit.
Focus on safety and practicality
Dongfeng Fengxing says the Xinghai V6's ADAS priorities are safety, parking, and highway assistance, rather than urban end-to-end features. In a 249-kilometre live-streamed test, the system required only one manual intervention, due to a police road closure. The company conducted extensive research, interviewing over 4,000 people across 40 Chinese cities and several overseas markets, to define the product. About 70% of interested buyers cited the flexible interior space as a key attraction, while over 60% valued Huawei's ADAS.
The Xinghai V6 is available in several variants, with the entry-level version priced at 109,800 yuan (about $15,500) before taxes and incentives. The top trim costs 159,800 yuan (about $22,500). All versions are BEVs, with CLTC ranges from 550 km to 650 km (WLTP est. 460-550 km).
Chen Lai, brand director of Dongfeng Fengxing, described the partnership with Huawei as a "two-way street," noting that both companies aim to democratize intelligent driving. "Huawei Qiankun's vision is to bring ADAS to every car, not just those costing 300,000 yuan," he said.
