Yijing Auto, the new brand formed by Dongfeng and Huawei, delivered the first batch of its X9 flagship SUV at Huawei's Songshan Lake campus on October 18, with Hong Kong stars Aaron Kwok and Francis Ng attending as owners. The event doubled as a statement of intent: Yijing wants to be seen as the deepest expression of Huawei's automotive technology, not a budget stand-in for the Aito M9.
The X9 launched in Guangzhou on September 24, days after Seres and Huawei publicly patched up their relationship. Yijing's bold claim at launch, that "the best of Huawei is in Yijing," drew headlines. Asked whether that slogan still holds with Aito back in the fold, Yijing brand general manager Zeng Qinglin told PCauto: "Our definition isn't about other models. I believe the Yijing-Huawei cooperation model is the best, and it doesn't change with external circumstances."
Family-first positioning
Zeng rejected comparisons to the Aito M9, which he said targets premium business buyers. "The M9 is high-end business; we are a family flagship. We are not a cheaper version of the M9," he said. The X9's family focus shows in details like an eye-protection screen for children, a flexible third row, and an in-cabin sensing system that monitors kids and elderly passengers. Yijing even built a dedicated evaluation system around family scenarios, something Zeng said no rival offers.
The X9 is priced at 319,800 yuan (about $45,000) and 359,800 yuan (about $50,700) for the two higher trims, which account for over 95% of orders. The Chinese guide price excludes taxes and incentives. The car is available in a BEV (battery-electric) version, with a CLTC range that the company has not fully detailed; a WLTP estimate would be roughly 15-20% lower.
Safety and technology as selling points
Zeng highlighted the X9's safety architecture, called Tianqiong Zhidun, which integrates active, passive, battery, and health safety. It links seat sensors, airbags, and Huawei's ADS (advanced driver assistance) so the system can warn or adjust seats if it detects danger, even when the seat is reclined. The car uses four lidar units and a 360-degree vision-plus-lidar dual redundancy setup, aimed at L3 autonomy. It also features 2,400 MPa ultra-high-strength steel, a figure Zeng contrasted with the 1,500-2,000 MPa used by many rivals.
Zeng said the X9's development began at Songshan Lake, making the delivery location symbolic. He noted that Huawei's latest technologies, including the ADS 5 and HarmonySpace 6 cabin system, debut on the X9. "In the coming years, others will be chasing us," he said.
The X9 received 9,157 firm orders within 24 hours of launch, according to PCauto. Yijing promises compensation of 1,000 yuan (about $141) per day in points if delivery exceeds four weeks after order confirmation. Zeng said the brand's KPI is customer satisfaction, not sales volume.
