- The CEO of Huawei’s automotive division made some bold claims about their upcoming joint venture with JAC.
- Yu Chengdong said that their new EV will be more luxurious, high-end, and comfortable than the Maybach and Rolls-Royce Phantom.
- The new brand by Huawei/JAC will be positioned above the Stelato (Huawei/BAIC), Luxeed (Huawei/Chery), and AITO (Huawei/Seres) joint ventures.
Huawei’s fourth joint venture with a Chinese automaker may not have an official name yet, but the tech giant’s CEO has made some pretty bold statements about its future products. Yu Chengdong, the head of Huawei’s Smart Car Solutions, stated that their partnership with JAC aims to surpass Maybach and Rolls-Royce in terms of luxury and comfort.
More specifically, Chengdong stated, “Yes, the name of Huawei-JAC has not been decided yet. This may be a million-level car, very high-end. Our benchmark far exceeds the level of Maybach and Rolls-Royce Phantom. It is more luxurious, higher-end, and more comfortable than them.”
More: Huawei’s Four-Year-Old Auto Unit Already Valued At Over $30 Billion
A Chinese electric car priced around ¥1 million (about $140,000 at current exchange rates) challenging established titans like the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class in refinement? It sounds ambitious. But that’s exactly the target Huawei’s CEO has set for their new co-branded venture, aiming to disrupt the ultra-luxury car market.
The first model from the new joint venture is rumored to be a spacious sedan featuring a fully electric powertrain. This ultra-luxurious EV is expected to make its debut in the fourth quarter of 2024, positioning itself as a direct competitor to flagship models like the BMW i7 and the Mercedes-Benz EQS.
The new automotive brand being created by Huawei and JAC will represent the “fourth realm” of the HIMA project. This ultra-luxury offering will sit above existing Huawei partnerships like the high-end Stelato (BAIC), mid-range Luxeed (Chery), and SUV-focused AITO (Seres). All four brands cater to young demographics, emphasizing high-tech features and practicality in their marketing.
During the same interview with Chinese media outlet QQ, Yu Chengdong revealed that he alternates between driving the Luxeed S7 sedan and the Aito M9 SUV as his daily rides. He praised both vehicles as excellent products, highlighting their LiDAR technology and safety features as “truly ahead of the entire industry.” Additionally, he expressed pride in the impressive driving range of Huawei-backed models, ranging between 705-855 km (438-531 miles), which surpasses offerings from rival manufacturers.
Yu Chengdong was also questioned about the principles from the mobile phone industry that could be adapted to the automotive sector. According to the CEO, these principles encompass the user experience, user satisfaction, product quality, and customer service.
