Huawei and Seres Group have signed a new five-year strategic cooperation agreement aimed at upgrading their joint Aito (Wenjie) premium smart electric vehicle business, according to Sina Auto. The signing ceremony took place on September 30 in Shenzhen, attended by Huawei executive director and chairman of the Intelligent Automotive Solutions BU, Yu Chengdong, and Seres Group chairman Zhang Xinghai.
The Aito brand has now surpassed 1.2 million users, a milestone that signals a shift into a new phase of brand growth. Under the renewed partnership, the two companies will maintain Aito's positioning as a high-end intelligent vehicle brand and will form a dedicated team to manage the business, with a focus on exclusive operations to better serve existing and future Aito customers.
Deeper integration
The agreement marks a continuation and deepening of the collaboration between Huawei and Seres, which jointly developed the Aito line of vehicles. The companies said the goal is to deliver more refined high-end intelligent electric vehicles and improved mobility experiences, while also supporting the broader development of China's automotive industry.
Huawei's role in the partnership has evolved from supplying components and software to a more comprehensive involvement in product definition, design, and sales channels. The Aito brand currently includes models such as the M5, M7, and M9 SUVs, which are sold through Huawei's HarmonyOS smart mobility retail network.
Seres, a Chongqing-based automaker, has been one of Huawei's closest automotive partners, with the Aito M7 and M9 achieving strong sales in China's premium new energy vehicle segment. The new agreement is expected to solidify that relationship as competition intensifies in the country's electric vehicle market.
Brand push
The companies described the partnership as a push to establish Aito as a benchmark for China's new luxury smart vehicle brands. The term "new luxury" in the Chinese auto context refers to a category of premium vehicles that emphasize intelligent features, software-defined capabilities, and digital experiences alongside traditional quality and comfort.
While no specific financial details or new model plans were disclosed in the announcement, the five-year framework suggests a long-term commitment from both sides. The Aito brand's user base of over 1.2 million gives it a substantial installed base as Huawei continues to expand its automotive ecosystem.
The signing comes as Huawei's automotive division, which also works with other automakers such as Changan and Chery under the HarmonyOS smart mobility umbrella, seeks to scale its model across multiple partnerships. The Aito cooperation remains the most prominent of these ventures, with the M9 in particular having become one of China's top-selling premium SUVs.
According to Sina Auto, the renewed agreement underscores the strategic importance both companies place on the Aito brand as they navigate an increasingly crowded and competitive segment in China's new energy vehicle market.
