Last year, the Chinese IT giant Huawei and Chery launched a joint automobile brand Luxeed, its first model was the S7 electric sedan, and the second will be the coupe-shaped crossover R7, which will go on sale in the third quarter of this year.
We already talked about the second model of the Luxeed brand last week, then, at the suggestion of the Chinese media, we called it Luxeed S9, but the real name, as we expected, turned out to be different — R7 instead of S9, because the S9 index is already reserved for the debut model of another Huawei subsidiary brand — Stelato.
Let us recall that Huawei has been actively involved in the auto business since the beginning of this decade — this is part of its large diversification strategy aimed at maintaining stability under US sanctions and creating new growth points. Unlike Xiaomi, which entered the car market under its own brand in March, Huawei adheres to a multi-brand approach and cooperates with several large car manufacturers at once: in 2021, Huawei launched the AITO brand together with Seres, last year the Luxeed brand, created jointly with Chery, appeared, and At the Beijing Auto Show held in April, the premiere of the Stelato brand took place — this is a joint brainchild of Huawei and BAIC.
Huawei, in addition, cooperates with other automakers (for example, Avatr) as a supplier of components, software and operator of various Internet services, but AITO, Luxeed and Stelato stand apart — their work is supervised by the subsidiary HIMA (Harmony) created by Huawei last year Intelligent Mobility Alliance), through its website hima.auto in China, you can buy/book models of all three brands. Soon another brand will appear as part of HIMA, Huawei will launch it together with JAC, the first model of this brand will hit the market in 2025.
New products from AITO, Luxeed, Stelato and the still secret joint brand of Huawei and JAC have a common style, but different technology, tied to a specific manufacturing partner. The Luxeed R7 is likely built on the same E0X modular platform as the Luxeed S7 sedan. The E0X platform was developed by Chery for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids; it has an 800-volt or 400-volt electrical architecture, depending on the specific model and modification. The E0X platform is not exclusive to the Luxeed brand; it has also been received by models of Chery's new Exlantix brand, which will soon enter the Russian market.
According to preliminary data, the overall length of the Luxeed R7 is 4956 mm, width — 1981 mm, height — 1634 mm, wheelbase — 2950 mm. If the Luxeed S7 sedan is currently offered only as an electric car with a choice of single- and dual-engine power plants, then the Luxeed R7, according to rumors, will also be offered as a plug-in range extender hybrid with an internal combustion engine, which works as a generator and is not mechanically connected to the wheels. The Luxeed R7 will cost in the range from 300,000 to 400,000 yuan (from 3.67 million rubles to 4.89 million rubles translated at the current exchange rate). More accurate and detailed information about the Luxeed R7 will appear in the coming months.
In Russia, none Of the brands, HIMA is not yet officially represented, but we have recently sold AITO crossovers under the Seres brand.