HUAWEI Technologies and Chinese auto giant BAIC Bluepark New Energy Technology on Tuesday launched their first jointly developed electric vehicle following the tech behemoth’s Smart Selection strategy, targeting the premium sedan market in China.

The Stelato S9 comes in two editions, with a Max version priced at 399,800 yuan (US$55,850) and an Ultra version at 449,800 yuan, Huawei announced at the launch event in Beijing. The prices are lower than the previously released 450,000 yuan to 550,000 yuan price range announced in June.

Customers can order the Stelato S9 or book a test drive at Huawei’s Vmall, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) mini program, Huawei Experience Stores, and the HIMA user center, yicai.com reported.

The Stelato S9 forms a “9” flagship group with the Aito M9, a sport utility vehicle jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, said Richard Yu, chairman of the Shenzhen-based tech company’s auto business unit.

The 800-volt, 100 kilowatt-hours battery helps the Stelato S9 reach a maximum cruising range of 816 kilometers and run 200 km more after a five-minute charge, according to Zeng Yuqun, chairman and chief executive of Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology.

BAIC Bluepark expects to sell 60,000 Stelato S9 units this year, 120,000 next year, 120,000 in 2026, 96,000 in 2027, and 84,000 in 2028, according to a plant environmental impact report it previously released. The second model under its tie-up with Huawei will be the Wagan, a C+ electric luxury wagon, and the third will be a B+ SUV.

BAIC Bluepark reported a net loss of over 22 billion yuan from 2020 to 2023 due to fierce market competition, but it sees the Huawei cooperation as the key to turning the tables. For the first half of this year, it predicted a net loss of between 2.4 billion yuan and 2.7 billion yuan.

Huawei also launched the Aito brand with Seres and the Luxeed brand with Chery Automobile through its Smart Selection strategy. The HIMA delivered 46,141 units last month, including 2,995 Luxeed S7s.

The Stelato S9 is the first model equipped with the Huawei ADS 3.0 high-level intelligent driving system, enabling a better driving experience, Yu said, as quoted by yicai.com. The Aito M5, the Aito M7, the Aito M9, and the Luxeed S7, will also use ADS 3.0 starting in September.

The Huawei ADS 3.0 marks the start of a head-to-head competition with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD), Yu said, adding that he is confident in ADS’ capability to defeat its rival. FSD has set a high bar, but it may have its flaws, Yu said.

Huawei and Chery’s first SUV under the Luxeed marque should start sales later this year; while Huawei and Jianghuai Automobile’s new luxury EV, which targets the high-end market with a price tag of over million yuan, will debut next year. (SD-Agencies)