Inicio EV Luxury model built with Huawei tops Porsche’s Panamera, BMW’s 7 series in...

Luxury model built with Huawei tops Porsche’s Panamera, BMW’s 7 series in China

Luxury model built with Huawei tops Porsche’s Panamera, BMW’s 7 series in China
Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), already the envy of the global automotive industry, have raced to the top of the luxury segment after a new model co-developed by Huawei Technologies outsold Porsche’s Panamera and BMW’s 7 Series in the world’s largest car market.

Maextro S800, a luxury sedan priced from 708,000 yuan (US$100,555) to 1 million yuan, recorded 2,145 deliveries in mainland China last month, more than the combined sales of the Panamera and the 7 Series, according to data provider ECC Intelligence.

Jointly developed by telecommunications equipment maker Huawei and state-owned JAC Group, the S800 is now the mainland’s top-selling car in the 700,000 yuan-plus price segment.

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It had held the top spot for three consecutive months since September, when monthly deliveries hit 1,900 units, ECC data showed. Deliveries remained steady in October.

In November, Panamera sold 1,200 units and the 7 Series recorded 928 deliveries.

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“The brand’s rosy performance could bolster Chinese carmakers’ confidence in building more expensive electric cars to challenge the international marques like Mercedes Benz and BMW,” said Tian Maowei, a sales manager at Yiyou Auto Service in Shanghai. “Chinese-made super luxury models still need to prove their quality and sustainability in the coming years as they attract more wealthy customers.”

Before the arrival of the Maextro S800, China’s luxury car segment was dominated by international marques. Photo: Getty Images
Before the arrival of the Maextro S800, China’s luxury car segment was dominated by international marques. Photo: Getty Images