The AITO M9 — China’s best-selling premium six-seat SUV — has been comprehensively renewed. Launched on May 27, 2026 after racking up an enormous 50,000 pre-orders before it even went on sale, this new-generation M9 brings 140+ improvements over the previous-generation model. The headline upgrades are serious: Huawei’s latest Qiankun ADS 5 driver-assistance with a six-LiDAR array, a new-generation DriveONE 800V dual-silicon-carbide platform, and a longer, roomier body. It’s offered as both an EREV (range-extender) and a pure BEV, in five- and six-seat layouts only (the four-seat is gone), with the tri-motor Ultimate EREV hitting 0–100 km/h in 3.99 seconds. Pricing starts at ¥479,800 (~$70,800) and climbs to ¥659,800 for the long-wheelbase Ultimate.
Performance & Powertrains
The new M9 comes in two powertrain families. The EREV (range-extender) pairs a 1.5L turbocharged engine (118 kW) acting as a generator with dual motors (220 kW front + 277 kW rear): a 60 kWh battery gives 340 km EV range and 1,345 km combined, while the larger 75 kWh battery delivers 422 km of pure-EV range and up to 1,405 km combined (CLTC). The BEV pairs dual motors (220 kW front + 277 kW rear, 497 kW / 666 hp combined) with a 120 kWh battery for up to 750 km CLTC in the Max+ and 700 km in the Ultimate. The tri-motor flagship is the Ultimate EREV: a 2.0T generator with three motors making a combined 664 kW (890 hp), a 75.4 kWh battery, 375 km CLTC electric range and 1,260 km combined. Acceleration is genuinely quick for a near-2.6-tonne luxury SUV: 3.99 seconds 0–100 km/h for the tri-motor Ultimate EREV, 4.5 seconds for the dual-motor EREV and 4.6 seconds for the dual-motor BEV. The whole car rides on Huawei’s new-generation DriveONE 800V dual-silicon-carbide platform for faster charging and efficiency.
| EREV engine | 1.5T, 118 kW (generator) |
|---|---|
| EREV motors | 220 kW front + 277 kW rear |
| EREV battery | 60 / 75 kWh |
| EREV range | 422 km EV / up to 1,405 km combined |
| Ultimate EREV (tri-motor) | 664 kW (890 hp), 75.4 kWh, 375 km EV / 1,260 km combined |
| BEV battery / range | 120 kWh / up to 750 km CLTC (Max+); 700 km (Ultimate) |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.99 s (tri-motor Ultimate EREV) / 4.5-4.6 s (dual-motor) |
| POWERTRAIN TYPES | EREV + BEV, AWD |
|---|---|
| EREV | 1.5T generator + dual motors (220+277 kW) |
| EREV BATTERY / RANGE | 60/75 kWh; 422 km EV / 1,405 km combined |
| ULTIMATE EREV | Tri-motor 664 kW (890 hp), 75.4 kWh, 375 km EV / 1,260 km combined |
| ACCELERATION | 0–100 km/h 3.99 s (tri-motor Ultimate EREV) / 4.5-4.6 s (dual-motor) |
| ADAS | Huawei Qiankun ADS 5, six LiDAR, 40 sensors |
| PLATFORM | DriveONE 800V dual silicon carbide |
| PRICE (CHINA) | ¥479,800–659,800 (~$70,800–97,300) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,285 mm (5,402 Ultimate) |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,026 mm |
| Height | 1,845 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,125 mm (3,236 Ultimate) |
| Seating | 5 or 6 |
| Suspension | Air suspension |
The new M9 grows over its predecessor: 5,285 mm long on a 3,125 mm wheelbase in standard form, stretching to 5,402 mm / 3,236 mm for the new long-wheelbase Ultimate. It’s 2,026 mm wide and 1,845 mm tall, on standard air suspension. The cabin is the M9’s calling card — the reviewer calls it “the top-selling six-seater in China” for good reason: a 6-seat 2+2+2 layout with zero-gravity reclining captain’s chairs, a rear climate-control screen, ventilated/heated/massaging seats, premium tan leather and wood, ambient lighting and a large rear entertainment display. The third row and folding cargo area keep it genuinely family-usable. Four-seat versions have been dropped, leaving five- and six-seat layouts.
| LENGTH | 5,285 mm (5,402 mm Ultimate) |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 2,026 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,845 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 3,125 mm (3,236 mm Ultimate) |
| SEATING | 5 or 6 (2+2+2) |
| WHEELS | up to 21-inch |
What's New vs The Old M9
This is a genuine new generation, not a light facelift. Compared with the previous-generation M9, the headline changes are: the jump from the older ADS to six-LiDAR Huawei ADS 5 (one 896-line front unit, one in the cabin, four at the corners); the move to the new DriveONE 800V dual-silicon-carbide platform; a larger body (length up to 5,285–5,402 mm vs the previous ~5,230 mm) with a new long-wheelbase Ultimate trim; updated EREV batteries pushing EV range to 422 km and combined to 1,405 km; a more powerful 890 hp tri-motor Ultimate EREV flagship plus an Ultimate BEV rated at 700 km CLTC; new million-pixel laser headlights; and the latest HarmonyOS. AITO also dropped the four-seat layout. In short: more tech, more range, more space — and a price that now starts around ¥479,800.
How It Compares
Verdict
- Genuine new generation — 140+ upgrades, not a facelift
- Six-LiDAR Huawei ADS 5 — class-leading smart driving
- 800V DriveONE platform; up to 1,405 km combined range
- 890 hp tri-motor Ultimate EREV, 3.99s 0-100; EREV or BEV choice
- Lavish 6-seat lounge cabin, air suspension, HarmonyOS
- 50,000 pre-orders — proven demand; new Ultimate LWB trim
- Pricey — from ~$70,800, up to ~$97,300 for the Ultimate
- Big and heavy (~5.3-5.4 m) for tight cities
- Four-seat layout discontinued
- China-focused; limited availability elsewhere
- Range/charge figures are CLTC — optimistic vs WLTP
- Rapid generational turnover may dent older M9 resale
The new-generation M9 shows why AITO and Huawei have dominated China’s premium SUV charts. This isn’t a token refresh: 140+ upgrades, a six-LiDAR ADS 5 system, the new 800V DriveONE platform, a larger body with a long-wheelbase Ultimate, more range and an 890 hp tri-motor Ultimate EREV flagship add up to a comprehensively better car. The 50,000 pre-orders before launch tell you the formula is working — Huawei smart-driving tech and lounge-grade luxury at a price that undercuts a comparably-equipped BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE while out-teching them. It’s expensive, large and very much built for China, and the CLTC range numbers will shrink in the real world. But as a tech-forward, six-seat family flagship, the new M9 is once again the one to beat — and a clear step up over the version from earlier this year.
