Huawei Unveils New Smart Vehicles at Harmony OS Intelligent Driving Launch Event

On April 16, Huawei held the launch event for its new products in Shanghai, where Yu Chengdong, Executive Director and Chairman of the Terminal BG, unveiled the new vehicle, the Wenjie M8. The Wenjie M8 is available in both six-seat and five-seat versions, equipped with the HUAWEI ADS 3.3 advanced intelligent driving system, the Huawei Tuling platform, and features seven layers of safety protection. The starting price for the six-seat version is ¥369,800, while the five-seat version starts at ¥359,800.

During the event, the Xiangjie S9 extended-range version was also launched, with a starting price of ¥309,800. Zhang Guofu, Chairman of BAIC New Energy, announced that BAIC is fully committed to the Xiangjie brand, with over ¥10 billion invested specifically for the development and testing of a dedicated platform for new energy vehicles.

Yu Chengdong further revealed that Huawei will collaborate with SAIC Motor to establish a new brand called Shangjie, with new vehicles expected to be launched this fall. Both companies will leverage their strengths to develop new intelligent new energy vehicles that offer users a smarter, more convenient, and safer travel experience. With this, Huawei’s HarmonyOS Intelligent Mobility now includes five major intelligent vehicle brands: Wenjie, Xiangjie, Zhijie, Zunjie, and Shangjie, created in partnership with Seres, BAIC, Chery, JAC, and SAIC Motor, respectively.

The Wenjie M8 is positioned as a “smart flagship SUV for families.” It features an integrated panoramic screen and a HUAWEI XHUD 68-inch cinema screen, with independent Bluetooth channels for the driver and passenger to avoid interference. The intelligent laser projection system 2.0, combined with a 32-inch onboard large screen, creates a private cinema experience. The vehicle’s floating display supports navigation, music, time, pet information, and customizable banners.

The Wenjie M8 offers both six-seat and five-seat layouts, with versatile seating arrangements. All models come standard with seat ventilation, heating, and massage functions to ensure a comfortable experience for all passengers. The six-seat version features a flat floor design to provide spacious seating for all three rows.

The vehicle is designed with seven layers of safety, including a robust body structure, omnidirectional collision prevention 3.0, reliable performance in temperatures as low as -40°C, waterproofing both inside and outside, active slip control via the Tuling platform, a five-star corrosion resistance rating, and a five-star healthy cabin design. Additionally, the vehicle features reinforced dual-layer A-pillars, aluminum alloy strengthening beams, and aluminum alloy front and rear collision beams.

As of the launch event, pre-sale orders for the Wenjie M8 had exceeded 150,000. Within just eight minutes of its market release, orders surpassed 8,000.

At the event, Huawei and BAIC also jointly launched the Xiangjie S9 extended-range version, available in three variants: Max priced at ¥309,800, Max+ at ¥339,800, and Ultra at ¥369,800. All versions come standard with a luxurious cabin, HarmonyOS ALPS health cabin, the latest Huawei Tuling platform, and omnidirectional collision prevention 3.0, ensuring a premium experience right from the entry-level model. The Xiangjie S9 offers four exterior colors, five interior color options, and new 20-inch multi-spoke wheels.

Zhang Guofu reiterated BAIC’s commitment to the Xiangjie brand, with a substantial investment of over ¥10 billion aimed at developing a dedicated platform for new energy vehicles. The Xiangjie super factory utilizes industry-leading digital flexible production lines, AI quality inspection centers, and top-tier ADS intelligent driving calibration centers. Leveraging BAIC’s high-end manufacturing capabilities and Huawei’s technological expertise, they aim to create luxury sedans for the new energy era.

The Xiangjie S9 features an innovative floating display, the first of its kind in a mass-produced sedan, and includes rear zero-gravity seats. The entire vehicle is outfitted with Nappa leather, fully breathable seats, privacy sunshades, a new D-shaped steering wheel, and electronic side mirrors. The Xiangjie S9 is powered by the Huawei Snow Owl intelligent range extender system, offering a pure electric range of up to 365 km and a comprehensive range of 1355 km. Thanks to Huawei’s advanced algorithms, the vehicle features seamless start-stop capabilities and generates power without feeling the strain, maintaining performance even at low battery levels.

The Xiangjie S9 is equipped with a comprehensive perception system, featuring four laser radars and three 4D millimeter-wave radars as standard. It also integrates the HUAWEI ADS 3.3 system and introduces an innovative cross-floor VPD parking valet feature. By the third quarter of this year, the entire Xiangjie S9 series will support an upgrade to HUAWEI ADS 4. Moreover, the new vehicle comes standard with omnidirectional collision prevention 3.0 and comprehensive safety features, ensuring safer driving experiences.

Yu Chengdong also shared that Huawei is collaborating with SAIC Motor to create the new brand “Shangjie,” with vehicles expected to launch this fall. This partnership will capitalize on the strengths of both companies to develop innovative intelligent new energy vehicles that meet diverse market demands. SAIC has indicated that the collaboration began last year, with a dedicated team of over 5,000 people and an initial investment of ¥6 billion, along with plans for a dedicated super factory.

In 2024, Huawei’s intelligent automotive solutions business is projected to achieve revenue of ¥26.353 billion, marking a nearly fivefold increase year-on-year, and achieving profitability for the first time within a full year. This success significantly surpasses Yu Chengdong’s previous expectation of profitability by 2025, indicating that Huawei’s automotive business has officially entered a positive cycle.

The rapid growth of Huawei’s automotive business is driven by three main engines: first, the scaling of core components, with Huawei’s vehicle BU delivering over 23 million units of intelligent driving and intelligent cabin components throughout the year, a sevenfold increase, covering 15 collaborative vehicle models; second, the explosive growth of the HarmonyOS Intelligent Mobility brand, with the Wenjie, Zhijie, Xiangjie, and Zunjie series delivering a total of 430,000 vehicles, achieving an average transaction price of ¥379,000; and third, Huawei’s ability to command a technology premium, with an increase in the proportion of high-end models that has improved profit margins, as the average price of HarmonyOS Intelligent Mobility vehicles exceeds ¥300,000 and the optional intelligent driving rate leads the industry.