- AITO announced cumulative M8 deliveries exceeded 190,000 units in 19 months, signaling a strategic push to defend volume in the RMB 300,000–400,000 SUV segment.
- Updated M8 pre-sales start at RMB 389,800 (about $58,520), adds 800V architecture, dual-chamber air suspension, ±8° active rear-wheel steering on top trim, and Huawei Qiankun ADS 5 with multiple lidars.
- Competition targets premium Chinese EV SUVs, but execution risks include recent steep month‑on‑month delivery declines, model refresh–related order pull‑forward, and disruption from an adjusted AITO–Huawei–Seres cooperation model.
On November 9, AITO announced that cumulative deliveries of the M8 had exceeded 190,000 units in the 19 months since its launch.
Positioned in the RMB 300,000–400,000 ($45,000–$60,000) SUV segment, the M8 has served as one of the AITO brand’s main volume drivers since its market debut.
According to the company, the model ranked first in sales among SUVs in the RMB 400,000 ($60,048) price class during its market cycle.
It also topped the Net Promoter Score rankings among new energy vehicles priced between RMB 300,000 and RMB 400,000 ($45,000–$60,000).
The delivery milestone comes just days before the launch of the updated M8.
Pre-sales began on September 30, with prices starting at RMB 389,800 ($58,520. The refreshed model is scheduled to officially launch on November 13.
The update focuses on the chassis, electrical and electronic architecture, and driver assistance system.
All versions of the new M8 will adopt an 800V high-voltage architecture, along with dual-chamber closed-type air suspension and dual-valve continuously variable damping shock absorbers.
The vehicle will also feature a next-generation intelligent chassis.
The top-spec version will add ±8-degree active rear-wheel steering to improve maneuverability at low speeds and handling at higher speeds.
For driver assistance, the updated M8 will be equipped with Huawei Qiankun ADS 5.
Its sensor suite includes one 896-line dual-optical-path lidar and three additional lidars.
The hardware architecture is designed to support L3-level autonomous driving.
AITO’s delivery performance has come under pressure ahead of the M8 refresh.
In October 2026, the HIMA alliance delivered 33,537 vehicles across its brands, down 10.54% month on month and 50.84% year on year.
Deliveries have declined year on year for five consecutive months and month on month for four months.
AITO accounted for 22,105 of those deliveries, down 54.69% year on year but still representing about 66% of HIMA’s total for the month.
The M8 contributed 720 units, down 95.9% year on year and 40.8% from September.
The downturn is partly related to the product cycles of AITO’s core models.
With the M7 and M8 approaching facelifts or generational updates, some prospective buyers have opted to wait for the updated versions, weighing on retail orders in October.
At the same time, the cooperation model between AITO and Huawei is being adjusted.
On September 15, HIMA announced that AITO would explore a new cooperation model within the existing framework, with Seres taking the lead in product definition and brand marketing.
On October 1, Huawei and Seres further announced the formation of a dedicated team for the AITO business, which will continue to handle business coordination and user services.
October was an early stage in the transition to the adjusted cooperation model, and the change had some impact on the pace of retail sales.
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