Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) and Aito jointly issued a statement on September 15 outlining changes to their collaboration model.
Under the new arrangement, Aito will explore a revised partnership model within the HIMA framework. Seres will take the lead on product definition, product design, brand marketing, channel retail, and its service system, while Huawei will shift to a supporting role.
The statement also made clear that Aito will remain a HIMA member and that the existing rights and future services of Aito users will not be affected.
The change gives Seres greater control over the Aito brand and could reduce its reliance on Huawei within the partnership. It could also give Huawei more flexibility to coordinate resources across HIMA and support its other partner brands.
According to Seres, it sold 20,600 vehicles in August, down 49.68% year-on-year. Sales totaled 201,900 units in the first eight months of the year, down 14.07% from the same period a year earlier. The sharper decline in August compared with the year-to-date figure suggests that sales pressure has intensified in recent months.
The partnership began in 2021, when Seres was expanding its new energy vehicle business and Huawei was bringing its technology, product development, and channel capabilities into the automotive sector through its “Smart Selection” model. In April that year, the Seres SF5 was launched and entered Huawei’s sales channels.
The Aito brand and its first model, the M5, debuted in December 2021. Other models, including the M7 and M9, followed. The partnership gradually deepened, with Seres responsible for vehicle R&D and manufacturing, while Huawei participated in product definition, design, marketing, and user experience.
Aito has since built a lineup spanning five SUV series: the M5, M6, M7, M8, and M9. Prices range from RMB 200,000 (USD 29,800) to nearly RMB 700,000 (USD 104,000), covering multiple segments of the passenger vehicle market.
The partnership’s growth has also translated into stronger financial performance for Seres. Aito delivered 386,300 vehicles in 2024, up more than 300% year-on-year. Seres also posted its first annual profit, with net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company reaching RMB 5.946 billion (USD 884.5 million), reversing previous losses.
The partnership has also extended into the capital markets. In July 2024, Seres announced plans to pay RMB 2.5 billion (USD 371.9 million) to acquire Aito-related trademarks and design patents held by Huawei. The following month, Seres invested RMB 11.5 billion (USD 1.7 billion) in Yinwang to acquire a 10% stake.
As Aito has grown, Huawei has continued to expand its automotive partnership network. Beyond Aito, HIMA has partnered with Chery on Luxeed, BAIC on Stelato, JAC on Maextro, and SAIC on Shangjie. The broader network has increased the need for coordination across product positioning, sales channels, and resource allocation.
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Seres, meanwhile, has been exploring opportunities beyond Aito. On June 9, Saidou, a brand under Seres, launched a technology brand called AIVA and announced a partnership with ByteDance’s Volcano Engine to jointly define, design, and develop artificial intelligence-powered automotive experiences.
AIVA is centered on what the company describes as AI-defined car experiences. Its models are intended to cover the mainstream passenger vehicle market above RMB 200,000. Its first model, the ME7, is scheduled to debut and enter production by the end of the year.
This article was adapted based on a feature originally written by SY and published on IPO Zaozhidao. KrASIA is authorized to translate, adapt, and publish its contents.
Note: RMB figures are converted to USD at rates of RMB 6.72 = USD 1 based on estimates as of September 17, 2026, unless otherwise stated. USD conversions are approximate and, where appropriate, rounded for ease of reference. They may not fully match prevailing exchange rates.