For a long time, it was believed that the first car from the JAC Huawei tie-up, now known as Maextro, would be an MPV. The first car is due to head off the production line around the end of the year and launch in the first half of 2025. Currently, it’s believed that a large sedan that has been spotted testing is the first car from Maextro. However, recent comments by Richard Yu (Yu Chengdong), chairman of Huawei’s smart car unit, have revived the prospects of an MPV.
Yu simply said that HIMA was about to launch a new MPV but did not reveal much in the way of details, saying that it was still at the secrecy level. The car is expected to come equipped with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0 system, which, thanks to Lidar, has a high degree of self-driving ability.
Maextro is the latest brand in the all-encompassing HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) level, where Huawei not only provides an intelligent cockpit and intelligent driving solution but is also involved with elements including the design, production, sales, after-sales and other stages of the vehicle but stops short of actually producing the car. Furthermore, Maextro is believed to have the highest level of positioning among the four brands currently within HIMA.
The comments by Richard Yu revived the talk about a Maextro MPV that would have flagship levels in terms of intelligence, endurance, and luxury configuration.
Along with the Lidar-based Qiankun 3.0 ADS system the car is expected to have on-board refrigerator, color TV, luxury seats, air suspension, head-up display technology, and an ultra-long range of more than 1,000 kilometers. Much of the battle for sales will likely be with the configuration of the back meaning the second and third rows.
It is unclear whether the announcement by Richard Yu means that the first model from Maextro is now confirmed to be an MPV or that simply an MPV will follow on shortly from the first model. As yet, none of the HIMA level brands have launched an MPV, which would certainly make such a move different, but equally, it would seem a bold move for Maextro’s first model to be an MPV. Another alternative is that the MPV is actually from the Seres venture Aito, Chery Luxeed or BAIC Stelato which are the other three HIMA companies.
Source: Fast Technology
