Chongqing - On June 1, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), a joint venture between Huawei and EV manufacturers, released its May delivery figures, reporting a total of 44,454 vehicles delivered across its five brands—a significant increase from 27,555 in April, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The Aito accounted for more than 80% of total deliveries, underscoring the widening performance gap among HIMA brands.
In May, Aito M9 delivered 15,481 units, maintaining its lead as the best-selling model in China’s premium segment above 500,000 yuan (69587 USD). Aito M8 followed with 12,116 units, topping the 400,000-yuan category. The entire AITO lineup delivered 36,625 units, accounting for 82.4% of HIMA’s total for May. In contrast, only 5,124 units of the Luxeed R7 were delivered, while the Stelato S9 saw just over 2,000 units.
The Aito M9 delivered 15,481 units in May, maintaining its position as the best-selling model in China's passenger car market in the 500,000 yuan segment. (Photo/Seres)
HIMA is Huawei’s deeply integrated automotive collaboration model, encompassing product design, research and development, and sales. It evolved from the “Smart Selection” initiative launched in 2021, beginning with a joint venture with Seres to create the AITO brand. Later, Chery, BAIC, JAC, and SAIC joined, forming the current five-brand alliance: Aito, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and an unnamed brand.
At the M Cube 2025 Man Machine Mobility event held on May 31, Richard Yu, Huawei’s Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Consumer BG, confirmed that there would be no additional brands under HIMA. “Managing two or three brands is already difficult; managing five is extremely challenging,” Yu said. “But like a clenched fist, we need five fingers to make it strong.”
Despite sharing Huawei’s core technology and quality systems, AITO’s dominance is no coincidence. Yu emphasized that Seres’ early and deep cooperation with Huawei set it apart. When HIMA was first launched, most automakers were hesitant to engage. Seres was the first to take the leap.
AITO’s success stemmed from mutual need. In a 2024 TV show, Yu revealed that in 2019, most carmakers rejected Huawei’s EV partnership—except Seres, which was struggling to sell its EVs. The two joined forces to revive their fortunes.
Based in Chongqing, Seres began transitioning toward new energy vehicles in 2016. However, repeated attempts failed, and by 2020, the company posted a net loss of over 2.3 billion yuan excluding non-recurring items.
The two parties officially began their partnership in 2019. During the initial two years, the partnership remained in the investment phase. The launch of the Aito M7 in 2022 marked a turning point, pushing annual sales past 70,000 units. In Q1 2024, the high-end M9 model began deliveries and went on to dominate China’s high-end car market, priced above 500,000 yuan, for 11 consecutive months, breaking the long-standing dominance of German luxury brands.
By contrast, Huawei’s collaboration with Chery has been less smooth. Chery Chairman Yin Tongyue acknowledged conflicts during the development of the Luxeed S7, as both companies insisted on their technical approaches. Huawei’s strict standards, such as tight manufacturing tolerances, clashed with Chery’s practices.
Additionally, Chery prioritized its own brand’s production schedules, which limited Luxeed S7’s output and extended its delivery time to up to 12 weeks, sparking customer frustration.
Powertrain options have also contributed to the performance disparity among HIMA brands. Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that in 2024, sales of pure electric vehicles declined by 10.4% year-over-year, while plug-in hybrids (including range-extenders) grew by 10.4%, surpassing a 40% market share. Both Luxeed and Stelato debuted as pure electric vehicles, and only later introduced range-extender versions. However, these updates failed to shift AITO’s dominant position within the alliance.
Yu acknowledged that building new brands takes time. While Huawei provides comprehensive support, the brand names belong to its partner automakers, limiting consumer recognition and trust. “If we could just slap a Huawei logo on the car, we’d win effortlessly,” Yu said. AITO, having launched first, naturally enjoys greater recognition and maturity, earning stronger consumer approval.
HIMA’s rise also challenges the “soul theory” in China’s auto industry. SAIC previously opposed deep integration with a single supplier, insisting automakers must retain control over core systems. Yet in early 2025, SAIC partnered with Huawei to launch SAIC under HIMA—an about-face that captured industry attention and reflected Huawei’s growing influence in reshaping automotive collaboration.
Richard Yu introduced developments related to HIMA during the M Cube 2025 Man Machine Mobility conference. (Photo/the M Cube 2025 Man-Machine Mobility)
With cutting-edge technologies like its Advanced Driver Assistance System, ADS, and a powerful brand presence, Huawei is not only driving HIMA forward but also collaborating with major automakers such as BYD, Xpeng, Changan, and Dongfeng, as well as global players like BMW. As a tech giant crossing into the automotive world, Huawei has become a pivotal force in China’s intelligent vehicle revolution.