AITO M9
Now we can share with you the new items on the China wholesale charts. This month we will have 4 new models in our dealerships, all Chinese. This continues to show that domestic brands are leading the way in terms of dynamism and frequency of launches. Again, all launches are new energy vehicles (EV or PHEV). To fully understand the scale of the Chinese market, be sure to check out our exclusive guide to all 188 active Chinese brands.
1. AITO M9 (5251 sales)
AITO has been a success story over the past few months, up 673.6% year-on-year in February and up 627.1% this year. This month, AITO M7 even climbed to a record third place. AITO is a joint venture between Huawei and Seres: Huawei supplies parts and software, and Seres produces cars. The M9 is AITO’s third and largest model after the M5 and M7. It is a 6-seater SUV available in extended EV (EREV) or pure EV range. Its length is 5.23 meters and its wheelbase is 3.11 meters. The door handles are hidden, and the headlights are “smart”, able to recognize both cars and pedestrians. They can also act as projectors.
The M9’s interior is plush and has three screens (there are only two in the image above). The instrument panel is 12.3 inches, the center screen is 15.6 inches and the passenger screen is 16 inches. The M9 ranges in price from 469,800 to 569,800 yuan (60,100–72,900 euros or 65,300–79,100 US dollars), which is expensive for a Chinese model and almost double the price of the smaller M7 (249,800–329,800 yuan). It will compete with the likes of LI Auto L9 (429,800-459,800 RMB), NIO ES8 (498,000-598,800 RMB) and Hongqi E-HS9 (509,800-779,800 RMB). Considering the price, the first month of sales of the M9 is already very impressive and characterizes it as a success.
2. SWM Big Tiger (414 sales)
SWM, from Sironi Vergani Vimercate Milano, has been absent from these updates of new models for many years, since September 2019 when the G05 was released. The company has finally added a new car to its lineup: the Big Tiger. It is a mid-size SUV with a length of 4.60 m, a wheelbase of 2.78 m and a ground clearance of 19 cm. The ICE variant is priced incredibly low at RMB 59,900–78,900 (€7,700–10,100 or US$8,320–11,000) ), while the EREV model is available from 99,900 to 139,900 yuan (12,800–17,900 euros or 13,900–19,400 US dollars).
The Big Tiger’s cutthroat pricing is evident inside, with a traditional gearbox and tiny dashboard. The EREV version received a larger screen and a rotary gear selector. The ICE variant competes with models such as the Haval M6 (71,900–92,900 yuan), Wuling Hongguang (60,100–82,800 yuan) and to a lesser extent the Changan CS35 Plus (79,900–99,900 yuan). The EREV model is around the same price level as the BYD Song Pro (RMB 109,800-RMB 159,800). The rest of SWM’s range has been hovering around a maximum of 1,000 units per month for the past few months, so Big Tiger’s ambitions are well founded.
Success bar: 2500 sales per month.
3. Hongqi EH7 (48 sales)
Hongqi is a premium brand from FAW that has achieved huge success over the past couple of years. The EH7 EV is the brand’s first launch since the HS3 hit the market in July last year. It is considered the 2nd generation H7. The EH7 is a fastback sedan with a length of 4.98 meters and a wheelbase of 3 meters. Now the obligatory hidden door handles are here. The EH7 will be available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with a fast-charging range of 760 and 820 km. The rear-wheel drive model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds.
Local media Autohome also reports a battery replacement option. The cabin features a 6-inch instrument panel and a 15.5-inch center console screen combined into a curved dual screen. The price of the EH7 has not yet been revealed, but it should compete with the likes of the Zeekr 007 (209,900-299,900 RMB), BYD Han (169,800-299,800 RMB) and Xpeng P7 (209,900-339,900 RMB). In terms of sales outlook, the cheaper Hongqi E-QM5 sedan (RMB 165,800 – 239,800) reached a record 10,600 units last December, so the EH7 should aim for half that figure.
Success bar: 5000 units per month.
4. Roewe D5X (1 sale)
So far, very little information has leaked about Roewe’s latest release. This is the hybrid variant of the third-generation RX5, but confusingly, the RX5 already has a hybrid version. and is powered by a Roewe DMH system consisting of a 110 kW 1.5T engine combined with a 153 kW electric motor. The interior is quite old school, with a traditional gearbox and small digital screens. The price hasn’t been revealed yet, but Autohome says it will compete with the BYD Song Plus (RMB 129,800-RMB 209,800). For comparison, the Roewe eRX5 hybrid costs between 147,900 and 159,900 yuan.
Success bar: 3000 sales per month.