Unhappy Aito M7 (see specs here) owners put up banners at the Wuhan dealership to protect their rights. Their principal complaints are a long delivery period, poor after-sales service, and a short period between car facelifts. 180,000 simpletons have no place to appeal for justice, said a banner.
Briefly on Aito M7
Aito is a joint project between Seres and Huawei. Seres is responsible for manufacturing, and Huawei acts as a major parts and software supplier. Moreover, Huawei sells Aito cars in flagship stores and has recently formed a sales network called HIMA. However, Aito also has its own independent dealership network operating in China.
The model line of this brand comprises three SUVs: M5, M7, and M9. The M7 is the bestseller among these three. This crossover was launched in July 2022. However, it became trendy only after the launch of the updated model in September 2023. Its starting price was cut by 40,000 yuan (5,550 USD). As a result, Aito M7 became one of the bestselling Chinese cars, delivering over 69,500 units in Q1 2024. The updated variant of the Aito M7 was launched on June 1, 2024.
The Aito M7 is a mid-to-large SUV that stands on the platform of the petrol-powered Dongfeng iX7, modified by Seres and Huawei. Its dimensions are 5020/1945/1760 mm with a wheelbase of 2820 mm. Inside, it has five or six seats. The Aito M7 is an EREV SUV with a 1.5-liter ICE under the hood. Its RWD variant has an e-motor for 200 kW (268 hp). The 4WD variant offers two electric motors with a combined power of 330 kW (443 hp). The price range of the M7 is 249,800 – 329,800 yuan (34,500 – 45,500 USD).
Aito M7 owners held a protest at Wuhan dealership
Chinese social media Weibo literally exploded, sharing pictures of the Aito M7 owners protesting at the Wuhan dealership. They appear to be the owners of the M7 pre-facelifted SUV. According to unhappy owners, they waited for a new car to be delivered for 100 days (14 weeks), drove it for 60 days, and then the facelift was launched. As a result, their recently new car turned into an old and unwanted model.
According to the manufacturer, the waiting period for Aito M7 can possibly reach 8-10 weeks due to the large number of orders. So, owners are worried that they will have to wait a long time to get an old model. One of the owners said that before the purchase, company representatives told him they wouldn’t launch a new model for at least a year. He had been waiting for a car for four months, and two months later, Aito launched the new model with a LiDAR sensor, a CDC suspension, and a new sound system.
However, there is another complaint: poor aftersales service. You will regret it after buying it, a banner said. Aito M7 owners haven’t specified this subject. It’s worth mentioning that dealership center employees didn’t try to hinder owners from the protest. In contrast, they offered them food and shielded them from rain with umbrellas.
Source: Weibo
