Some analysts say IAA Munich looks more like a Shanghai auto show extension these days, as Chinese brands are all competing for European customers’ favor. The Seres-Huawei joint venture adds some more heat by unleashing three Aito-rebranded crossovers on the Old Continent.

Contrary to the low-budget Seres 3 we know in Belgium today, Aito is positioning itself as a global, more premium brand. The Aito 9, 8, and 5 models showed in Munich are Middle East variants that have to “emphasize a reinterpretation of new luxury for the intelligent EV era”.

Huawei smart cockpit

Aito was launched in December 2021 as a joint brand between state-owned Seres (Sokon/SF Motors), a Chinese automaker based in Chongqing, and electronics giant Huawei, which is providing its HarmonyOS-based smart cockpit, driver-assist systems, and marketing power.

The Aito M5 crossover debuted as a range-extended EV (REEV) and later as a pure battery electric BEV. It was branded ‘Huawei AITO’ in China, sold mainly through Huawei’s retail network. In 2022-2023, the larger Aito M7 and the M9 luxury flagship joined the lineup, the M8 was launched in China in April 2025.

In China, they are sold at a price range of 229,800 to 449,800 yuan (approximately €27,550 to €53,920). To avoid regulatory and political complications, the cars are exported outside China, including the Middle East, under the Seres brand, which is the automaker of record.

One showroom in Belgium

The Seres 3, currently the only model sold in Belgium by Grimbergen Motors in Strombeek-Bever near Brussels as the exclusive contact point for Seres, is not an Aito sibling and lacks the Huawei-driven intelligence.

It is positioned as an affordable, compact EV, with a list price of €39,990 (Comfort) to €41,990 (Luxury), making it one of the more accessible electric SUVs in Europe.

It features a single front-mounted motor that produces approximately 120 kW (161 hp) and around 300 Nm of torque, paired with a 52 kWh battery, providing a range of around 300 km (WLTP). Acceleration figures are 8.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 155 km/h.

More expensive, premium segment

The Aito range presented in Munich today sits firmly in a premium segment, estimated at roughly €20,000 to 30,000 more expensive and offering advanced tech, high performance, and AWD. They are available as range-extend versions with a 1.5-liter ICE engine and smaller batteries or fully electric BEVs.

The Aito M5, rebranded as Seres 5,  was first showcased at the 2023 Brussels Motor Show, indicating a strategic rollout in selected European markets like Norway and Germany, but is not officially listed in Belgium yet. In Germany, for instance, the AWD version is listed at €64,990.

The Aito M5 (Seres 5) BEV is powered by a single electric motor in the rear axle with a peak power of 200 kW (268 hp) and a CATL 83 kWh LFP battery, suitable for 602 km range according to Chinese CLTC standards. These tend to be 20 to 25% more ‘lenient’ than WLTP. It is equipped with Huawei’s HarmonyOS, LiDAR, advanced ADAS (ADS 3.3), and powerful infotainment.

The Aito M8 (Seres 8) is currently one of the best-selling full-size electric SUVs in China as a BEV or REEV. The all-electric RWD model delivers 227 kW (304 hp) and gets a 100 kWh battery for a 705 km (CLTC) range. The 4WD offers 387 kW (519 hp) and a 655 km range.

The Aito M9 (Seres 9) is the flagship and biggest of the three, available with five- and six-seat layout variants, with dimensions of 5,230/1,999/1,800 mm and a wheelbase of 3,110 mm.

It comes with dual motors (365 kW or 523 hp) and a 100 kWh battery for a range up to 630 km, an aluminum chassis, ADAS with multiple LiDARs, air suspension, ultra-luxury interiors with AR HUD, multiple screens, and more.

No confirmed European launch yet

While the Seres 5 is currently only officially on sale in Norway and Greece and offered as second-hand in Germany, Spain, and some in Slovenia, no confirmed European launch or sales timeline has been published yet for the three crossovers presented in Munich today.

In Belgium, Grimbergen Motors has no official announcement yet on its website. In the Netherlands, Astara Western Europe is the official distributor of Seres, while in Belgium, Astara holds a wide portfolio of brands, including Hyundai, Isuzu, KGM, Maxus, MG, and Microlino.