Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) are jointly launching the Maextro S800, a new luxury sedan poised to enter the high-end market. The vehicle will make its debut at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show in Shenzhen at the end of May, according to Richard Yu, Huawei’s managing director and chairman of the smart car solutions business unit.
The Maextro S800, expected to be priced between RMB 1 million ($138,000) and RMB 1.5 million, will be offered in both extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV) variants, mirroring the strategy of other models under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA).
The EREV and BEV versions share identical dimensions: a length of 5,480 mm, a width of 2,000 mm, and a height of 1,536 mm, with a wheelbase of 3,370 mm. Both configurations will offer 4-seat and 5-seat options.
The EREV variant will incorporate an 800V high-voltage battery pack with a capacity of 65 kWh, supporting 6C fast charging. At a live-streamed event, Yu stated that the EREV model could recharge from 10 percent to 80 percent in a mere 10.5 minutes. The BEV variant will feature a 5C battery pack, achieving the same charge level in about 12 minutes.
Yu also highlighted the S800’s advanced safety features, noting the vehicle’s ability to anticipate and respond to road conditions within 200 to 50 milliseconds. In inclement weather, such as rain or snow, the car can predict potential skidding risks, and increase emergency avoidance speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour.
The Maextro S800 is built upon an L3 autonomous driving architecture, enhanced by an intelligent driving system featuring 32 sensors, including four LiDARs. Despite its size, the S800 is designed for agile handling, supported by rear-wheel steering that reduces the turning radius to 5.05 meters, which is smaller than a BMW Mini, despite the S800’s much longer wheelbase. This was another point emphasized by Yu.
Maextro represents the fourth brand collaboration between Huawei and a local car manufacturer, positioned as the highest-tier offering under Huawei’s HIMA umbrella. The other brands in the HIMA business are Stelato (with BAIC Group), Aito (Seres Group), and Luxeed (Chery). The S800 was initially unveiled on November 26, 2024.
($1 = RMB 7.2644)
