Chongqing —Seres and Changan Auto in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area recently released their sales figures for the first half of 2025. Seres reported total vehicle sales of 198,603 units, down 15.77% year on year, with new energy vehicles accounting for 172,108 units, down 14.35%. Changan posted total sales of 1.355 million vehicles. Of these, NEVs stood at 450,000 units, up 48.8% year-on-year, while overseas sales reached 299,400 units.
The Aito M9 2025 Edition is developed through a collaboration between Seres and Huawei, a Chinese technology company. (Photo/Seres)
The data highlights a clear difference: Seres remains heavily focused on NEVs, which represent its core business segment. Despite the overall decline in sales, this does not necessarily signal deterioration in operational performance because 2024 marked a special year for Seres, with explosive growth in its NEV and a turnaround from nearly four consecutive years of losses.
According to its 2024 semi-annual report, Seres posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of 1.625 billion yuan (226.79 million USD), returning to profitability. In 2024 H1, Seres sold 200,949 NEVs, representing an increase of 348.55%, underscoring the momentum of its NEV operations.
The Aito series plays a central role within its NEV segment. In 2025 H1, Aito sales totaled 153,648 units. The flagship model, Aito M9, recorded sales of 62,492 units, up 6.28%, accounting for 40.6% of total Aito sales. Positioned in the 500,000-yuan luxury vehicle segment, the Aito M9 continues to lead its category in sales.
The Aito is a product of deep collaboration between Seres and Chinese tech giant Huawei. The partnership falls under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), which integrates product design, R&D, and sales.
Seres was the first automaker to partner with Huawei, later joined by Chery, BAIC, JAC, and SAIC. Together, they form HIMA’s five current brands: Aito, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and an unnamed brand. According to HIMA data, it delivered a total of 52,747 vehicles in June 2025, with Aito alone contributing 44,685 units, 84.7% of total deliveries—highlighting its dominance within HIMA while other brands have yet to gain significant market traction.
Beyond its cooperation with Huawei, Seres is also building broader industry partnerships. CATL launched battery production on June 30 at Seres’ super factory. The batteries are delivered directly to Aito production lines, reducing logistics costs.
Changan's NEV sales rose 48.8% year on year, accounting for just 33.2% of total sales, indicating the continued resilience of its internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle segment. In 2025 H1, Changan’s classic ICE models remained strong performers, with the CS75 series surpassing 100,000 units and the Eado series recording a 14.4% increase.
This was a key development in the first half of the year’s transition to “central SOE” status. Previously a subsidiary of China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC), Changan became part of a newly established national automotive SOE in June. According to Chongqing Daily, industry insiders believe this restructuring will enhance Changan’s access to national resources and accelerate R&D and NEV brand development.
Changan has also remained active in overseas markets, with overseas sales reaching 299,400 units in 2025 H1. On July 3, Changan’s high-end NEV brand Avatr signed a cooperation agreement with Jordan’s Mallouk Group in Dubai. Avatr plans to complete product launch, channel development, and brand activation in Jordan within the next three months. The first batch of 185 vehicles has already been shipped and is preparing for delivery.
Changan Automobile's final assembly workshop is where new energy vehicles await rollout. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)
Changan is advancing its European strategy. After officially entering the European market in March, it continues to expand its regional footprint. According to a July 2 report by Reuters, Changan is considering establishing a manufacturing plant in Europe to support local sales. However, when asked for confirmation, Changan noted that there is no finalized decision at this time.
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