BUSINESS

Seres Takes Full Control of Aito EV Brand From Huawei

Published: Sep. 16, 2026 3:52 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

An Aito M6 SUV on display in Shanghai on July 3. Photo: VCG

Seres Group Co. Ltd. has taken full control of the Aito electric vehicle brand from Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., ending the tech giant’s dominance over product design, development, marketing and sales for its first carmaker partner under its Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA).

The strategic shift marks a significant reduction in Huawei’s involvement in its most successful automotive collaboration and highlights the mounting profitability pressures facing automakers operating within Huawei’s smart-car ecosystem.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and Bloomberg - for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

Seres Group took full control of the Aito EV brand from Huawei, reducing Huawei to a supporting role within the HIMA alliance.
Seres reported a net loss of 1.7 billion yuan in H1 2026, reversing a 2.9 billion yuan profit from H1 2025, with revenue down 7.9%.
The shift allows Seres to choose suppliers to cut costs, though its sales expenses remained high at 14.7% of revenue vs Li Auto's 8.9%.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Seres Group Co. Ltd.: Seres Group Co. Ltd. has taken full control of the Aito EV brand from Huawei, ending Huawei's dominance over design, development, marketing, and sales. The shift follows profitability pressures—Seres reported a net loss of 1.7 billion yuan in H1 2026, despite rising sales. Seres now has freedom to choose suppliers, potentially cutting costs, though Aito's growth without Huawei's marketing remains uncertain.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.: Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is a tech giant that previously dominated product design, development, marketing, and sales for the Aito EV brand under its Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). It has now transitioned to a supporting role after Seres took full control. Under HIMA, automakers purchase Huawei systems and pay fees, impacting profitability.

Chery Automobile Co. Ltd.: Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. is one of the automakers that joined Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), following Seres' initial partnership. It partners with Huawei under this smart-car ecosystem, which involves purchasing Huawei systems and components while paying fees for development, marketing, and accessories.

SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd.: SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. is a Chinese automaker that joined Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), attracted by Seres' initial partnership. The collaboration was upgraded to HIMA in November 2023. In the context of the article, SAIC is listed among HIMA partners currently facing profitability pressures due to high costs and fees.

Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp.: Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. is one of the automakers that joined Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) after Seres became the first partner in 2021. It is mentioned as a HIMA partner, but the article provides no further specific details about its operations or financial status.

BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co. Ltd.: BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. is one of the automaker partners in Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), joining after Seres Group. The article indicates HIMA partners face profitability pressures due to high costs for Huawei's systems, development, and marketing fees, with most currently operating at a loss.

Li Auto Inc.: Li Auto Inc. has a similar brand positioning to Seres and uses a direct-sales model. In the first half of 2026, it reported an expense-to-sales ratio of 8.9%, significantly lower than Seres' 14.7%, reflecting its operational efficiency.

AI generated, for reference only

What Happened When

2021：: Seres became Huawei's first automaker partner, launching the Aito brand later that year.

November 2023：: The collaboration was upgraded to HIMA.

First half of 2025：: Seres reported a net profit of 2.9 billion yuan.

First half of 2026：: Seres reported a net loss of 1.7 billion yuan, with revenue falling 7.9% year-on-year to 57.5 billion yuan and vehicle sales rising 5.6% year-on-year to 161,000 units.