Huawei and Seres are restructuring their cooperation on the Aito brand, moving from a model dominated by Huawei to a lighter arrangement in which Seres takes the lead, according to a statement from Harmony Intelligent Mobility (HIMA), Huawei's smart-car alliance, reported by PCauto.
The adjustment, which takes effect immediately, means Seres will oversee product definition, design, brand marketing, channel retail and service, while Huawei Terminal will participate in enabling those areas. Aito remains part of the HIMA family, the alliance said, and existing Aito owners will see no change to their benefits or services.
The change follows reports that Huawei and Aito renegotiated their terms, with Seres initially receiving all rights to the Aito brand. Earlier media reports suggested the cooperation would shift to an asset-light model, with Huawei focusing on supplying equipment and technology, similar to its Hi and other models, while Aito cars would remain on display in Huawei stores.
HIMA focuses on other brands
HIMA said the adjustment does not affect its other brands - Stelato, Luxeed, Maextro and Shangjie - which will continue with Huawei leading the full process. The alliance said it will work with all five brand partners to advance intelligent vehicle technology.
Seres was Huawei's first deep partner in its smart-car model, with cooperation beginning in April 2021. In February 2023, the two signed an agreement to deepen their joint business, targeting production and sales of 1 million new-energy vehicles by 2026. In August 2024, they signed an investment agreement in Yinwang, upgrading to a business-plus-equity partnership.
Financially, Seres issued a profit warning in July 2026, expecting a net loss of 1.5 billion to 1.8 billion yuan (about $211 million to $254 million) for the first half, with Aito contributing a net loss of 1.7 billion to 1.95 billion yuan (about $239 million to $275 million) after deducting non-recurring items.
The move reflects a broader trend in China's EV industry, where technology companies and automakers are recalibrating their partnerships to balance control and capital efficiency. For Huawei, focusing resources on its other HIMA brands could help it scale its smart-driving and connectivity technologies across more models.
