Maextro, the premium automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), plans to launch several new models next year as it steps up efforts to penetrate China’s luxury vehicle market, Chinese media outlet 36Kr reported.
The brand is preparing to introduce both sport utility vehicle (SUV) and multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) models, each offered in standard and long-wheelbase variants, according to the report.
In addition to the new SUV and MPV, Maextro is expected to release a higher-spec version of its only current model, the S800 sedan. Including the existing S800, the brand is projected to offer a total of six models in its portfolio next year, the report said.
See also: Everything You Should Know About Maextro S800 Specifications
The standard-wheelbase MPV is intended for family use, while the elongated version will target commercial users. Both MPV variants are expected to be priced well above most comparable family and commercial MPVs currently sold in China, reflecting the brand’s high-end positioning. The upcoming Maextro SUV is also expected to target the premium segment, though it will be positioned below the S800 sedan in the product hierarchy.
Maextro is positioned as the top-tier brand within Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), which also includes Aito under Seres Group, Luxeed under Chery, Stelato under BAIC Group, and Shangjie under SAIC Motor. Following luxury market conventions, the long-wheelbase SUV will mainly serve to enhance brand image, while the short-wheelbase variant is expected to drive higher sales volumes, 36Kr reported.
See also: Huawei-JAC’s Maextro Brand Accelerates Development of Two New Models
The Maextro brand made its market debut on May 30 with the launch of the S800 sedan, offered in two battery electric vehicle (BEV) versions and four extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants. Priced from 708,000 yuan ($99,930) to 1.018 million yuan, the S800 ranks among the most expensive domestically produced passenger cars in China.
By late October, about 5,000 units had been delivered, while rival Maybach S-Class models recorded roughly 9,000 deliveries in the first ten months of the year, according to 36Kr. At the Guangzhou auto show on Nov. 20, Huawei executive director and consumer business group chairman Richard Yu said firm orders for the Maextro S800 had exceeded 18,000 units just over 100 days after its launch.
