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Daniel Ren

Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), already the envy of the global automotive industry, have raced to the top of the luxury segment after a new model co-developed by Huawei Technologies outsold Porsche’s Panamera and BMW’s 7 Series in the world’s largest car market.
Maextro S800, a luxury sedan priced from 708,000 yuan (US$100,555) to 1 million yuan, recorded 2,145 deliveries in mainland China last month, more than the combined sales of the Panamera and the 7 Series, according to data provider ECC Intelligence.
Jointly developed by telecommunications equipment maker Huawei and state-owned JAC Group, the S800 is now the mainland’s top-selling car in the 700,000 yuan-plus price segment.
It had held the top spot for three consecutive months since September, when monthly deliveries hit 1,900 units, ECC data showed. Deliveries remained steady in October.
In November, Panamera sold 1,200 units and the 7 Series recorded 928 deliveries.
“The brand’s rosy performance could bolster Chinese carmakers’ confidence in building more expensive electric cars to challenge the international marques like Mercedes Benz and BMW,” said Tian Maowei, a sales manager at Yiyou Auto Service in Shanghai. “Chinese-made super luxury models still need to prove their quality and sustainability in the coming years as they attract more wealthy customers.”

The S800 debuted in late May, offering both pure electric and extended-range editions to mainland clients. China’s luxury car segment was previously dominated by international marques producing mainly petroleum-powered vehicles.
Chinese EV makers, from BYD to Leapmotor, have beaten foreign brands in the mass market, where consumers sought intelligent models priced below 150,000 yuan.
Big-name brands from Volkswagen to General Motors have lost market share to Chinese rivals over the past three years owing to their slow progress in developing electric cars. Currently, about 60 per cent of new cars sold to mainland customers were either battery-powered or plug-in hybrid models, according to the China Passenger Car Association.
At the end of 2024, UBS forecast that international carmakers would lose up to US$20 billion in annual profit on the mainland amid a rapid market shift towards electric cars and smarter vehicles.
Diminished demand for foreign brands would lead to an over­capacity of 10 million vehicles, Paul Gong, head of China automotive research at the Swiss bank, said at the time. He predicted, however, that foreign carmakers would remain competitive in the premium market because of their strong technological strength and brand awareness.
In 2023, BYD, the world’s largest electric-car builder, launched its first ultra-luxury model Yangwang U8, priced at 1.1 million yuan, in a bid to move up the value chain and challenge the likes of Range Rover.
Huawei entered the automotive business in 2019, focusing on technologies such as electrification, autonomous driving and digital cockpit. The company has reiterated its role as a supplier of vehicle technology and systems, rather than a car builder, aiming to support assemblers worldwide in the transition to electrification and digitalisation.
Earlier this year, Huawei partnered with Shanghai-based SAIC Motor to develop smart EVs under a new brand as the country’s largest state-controlled carmaker sought to reverse six years of sliding sales in China.


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Chinese carmakers gain confidence in the premium segment as Maextro S800 – developed by Huawei and JAC Group – tops sales above US$100,000


Chinese carmakers gain confidence in the premium segment as Maextro S800 – developed by Huawei and JAC Group – tops sales above US$100,000.


Luxury EV built with Huawei outsells Porsche’s Panamera and BMW’s 7 Series in China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese carmakers gain confidence in the premium segment as Maextro S800 – developed by Huawei and JAC Group – tops sales above US$100,000

Chinese carmakers gain confidence in the premium segment as Maextro S800 – developed by Huawei and JAC Group – tops sales above US$100,000