Huawei and Seres have opened a new round of negotiations over their cooperation model for the Aito brand, just two weeks after a major restructuring handed operating leadership of the brand to the carmaker, according to Chinese media reports.
The talks were reported on October 1 by Cailianshe and picked up by Chinese outlet D1EV. They come after Aito and Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) issued a joint statement on September 15 saying that product definition, design, brand marketing, channel retail and service systems for Aito would now be led by Seres, with Huawei's terminal business participating in an enabling role.
The September 15 statement marked the first time Huawei handed full operating control of a mature brand back to a partner automaker since the HIMA model began. The change did not affect other HIMA brands - Zhijie, Xiangjie, Zunjie and Shangjie - which continue to operate under Huawei's full-process leadership model.
Contract renewal triggered the shift
According to industry sources quoted by Gasgoo, the restructuring was triggered by the expiration of the Huawei-Seres cooperation contract at midnight on September 16. The two sides had been in renewal negotiations beforehand, and the changes were based on the respective needs of both parties under the new contract period.
In practical terms, the source said, leadership of specific functions shifted from Huawei's terminal business to Seres, with Huawei participating in an enabling capacity. The most notable change is in channel strategy: previously, Huawei decided unilaterally whether Aito models were sold in Huawei terminal stores and how showroom resources were allocated. Now, the two companies will make such decisions through consultation.
The new round of talks reported on October 1 is expected to focus on whether Aito should move to an exclusive, dedicated retail model, which would represent a further upgrade of the partnership beyond the current "Seres-led, Huawei-enabled" framework.
Balancing a multi-brand portfolio
The handover of operating control does not mean Huawei is withdrawing support. Seres is a shareholder in Yinwang, the smart-driving technology company spun off from Huawei, giving it priority access to Huawei's technology supply at the equity level.
From an industry perspective, the restructuring reflects a broader governance challenge for Huawei's automotive business. The HIMA model has grown from a single Aito brand to a five-brand portfolio, and Huawei's brand, channel and technology resources must now be allocated among a growing number of partner automakers. Maintaining a balance of interests and confidence among partners with limited resources has become a core issue, according to the report.
One industry insider told Gasgoo that the adjustment would inevitably involve a period of磨合 and adaptation, and that the process would not be settled overnight. Aito has now surpassed one million users, according to the report, and is entering a new stage of brand growth.
The restructuring of the Huawei-Seres relationship goes beyond the two companies themselves, the report argued, as it is testing a sustainable institutional path for cooperation between technology companies and traditional automakers - a path whose final form still needs time and market verification.
