Huawei has finally unveiled its luxury flagship sedan, the Maextro S800, developed in collaboration with automaker JAC. Positioned to compete with high-end brands like Mercedes-Maybach and Bentley, the S800 offers both fully electric and extended-range drivetrain options at a significantly lower price point.
The Maextro name first surfaced in late 2024, when Huawei released teaser images of its upcoming luxury model. It now sits at the top of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), Huawei’s automotive partnership with several Chinese manufacturers.
HIMA encompasses four collaborative brands: AITO (in partnership with Seres), Luxeed (in partnership with Chery), Stelato (in partnership with BAIC), and Maextro (in collaboration with JAC). Among them, Maextro stands as the most upscale offering.
A Maybach for less than half the price
The Maextro S800 aims to one-up traditional luxury marques like Mercedes-Maybach, Bentley, and even Rolls-Royce—yet at a significantly more accessible price point. Dimensionally, the S800 eclipses most of its rivals, measuring 5,480 mm in length, 2,000 mm in width, and 1,536 mm in height, with an expansive 3,370 mm wheelbase.
Inside, the Maextro S800 offers a choice between four- and five-seat configurations. The four-seat layout features an “Executive Island” center console equipped with foldable tables, a refrigerator, heated and cooled cup holders, and even a fingerprint-secured safe. Rear passengers are treated to “zero-gravity” seats with 20-way electric adjustment and full recline functionality.
At the front, the driving environment is entirely digital. A triple panoramic display spans the dashboard, covering both driving and infotainment functions, while digital side mirrors incorporate additional screens into the door panels. The cabin showcases luxury craftsmanship, featuring materials such as calf leather, hand-polished crystal, forged metal, and meticulously grain-matched wood trim with seamless joins.
Fully-electric or extended-range
The Maextro S800 offers three powertrain options: a dual-motor battery-electric version delivering 390 kW (530 hp), a dual-motor extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) with the same output, and a high-performance three-motor EREV producing a total of 635 kW (864 hp).
The fully electric Maextro S800 is equipped with a 95 kWh battery, providing a range of up to 702 km on the CLTC cycle. Thanks to its 800V architecture, it supports ultra-fast charging, reaching 10–80% capacity in just 12 minutes.
The EREV variants come with a 65 kWh battery, offering an electric-only range of 400 km or 365 km, depending on the model, and a total driving range of 1,333 km or 1,200 km. A 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine serves as a generator when the battery is depleted. Recharging the battery takes just 10.5 minutes.
High levels of autonomy
As demonstrated in a recent promotional video—where the Maextro S800 autonomously parked and plugged itself into a charging station—the vehicle offers advanced self-driving capabilities. It features four LiDAR units and 32 additional sensors, providing 360-degree coverage that enables autonomous driving even in complex scenarios where other systems might fail.
Maextro S800 available from €86,400
Despite its premium features, the Maextro S800 is priced lower than initially expected. It is available for 708,000 to 1,018,000 yuan (approximately €86,400 to €124,200). Huawei reported receiving over 2,600 orders within the first 72 hours of launch, with the majority of buyers opting for the top-tier model.
Deliveries under the pre-order “Pioneer Program” will begin at the end of June, with general deliveries starting in mid-August.
