Today, SERES held the AITO brand (Chinese:傲图) launch conference in Chongqing China (we have previously reported SERES rumored to cooperate with Huawei to have its 2nd model named AOTU), officially launched the high-end smart new energy vehicle brand and announced the logo. The brand combines the technologies of SERES and Huawei to position the mid-to-high end, and is expected to implement advanced autonomous driving assistance functions.
Yu Chengdong said that Huawei has applied core technologies accumulated in the fields of communications and ICT for more than 30 years to help AITO build a medium-sized luxury SUV. This car will be equipped with Huawei’s latest HarmonyOS smart cockpit for the first time, bringing users the ultimate experience!
The new brand AITO means Adding Intelligence to Auto, bringing intelligence to cars and making cars smarter. Its core competitiveness is a smart ecology, a boutique strategy, the integration of two major industries, and four unique advantages.
Today, SERES announced the first SUV model of the AITO brand, which is positioned as a mid-sized luxury SUV. This car has appeared on the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology before, and the name is expected to be “Wenjie M5″(Chinese: 问界M5). The car is expected to be offered by a regular version and a Huawei Smart Selection version, and only the top version can include Huawei’s smart functions.
This car will be equipped with the Harmony OS car infotainment system, using extended-range hybrid power, four-wheel drive, and powered by a 1.5T engine and e-motors. The rated power for the 1.5T fuel engine is 92kW and the electric motor rated power is 60kW, and is respectively 165kW (front axle motor) and 150kW (rear axle motor). According to the official, the maximum cruising range of the car can reach 1,000 kilometers.
This new car will be officially released on December 23 2021. In the future, SERES AITO brand will also launch medium-sized luxury pure electric SUVs, as well as mid-to-large-sized luxury SUVs.
About SERES Auto
In 2016, Sokon Industry Group invested US$30 million to establish SF Motors in Silicon Valley, USA. The company announced that it is engaged in the design, development, production and sales of smart electric vehicles. However, the main development mode is based on the acquisition of mature overseas assets. In June 2017, SF announced the acquisition of a US automotive solution integration supplier AM General’s (AMG) civilian car plant for US$10 million.
In October 2017, SF acquired a 100% stake in InEVit, a US-based electric vehicle battery system R&D and design company, for US$33 million. Martin Eberhard, one of the founders of InEVit, was the first CEO of Tesla, he is also one of the founders of Tesla.
Another heavyweight partner of SF Motors is Tang Yifan, chief technology officer of SF Motors. He was involved in the design of Tesla’s first generation of electric sports cars Roadster and Model S. He is also the designer of Tesla Model X AWD prototype.
On May 31, 2018, SOKON announced that it had transferred 100% stake of SF MOTORS to Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile.
Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of SOKON Industry Gruop, which was established in Chongqing in September 2012 with a registered capital of 4 billion yuan. Jinkang Automobile was awarded the qualification of new energy passenger vehicle production on January 5, 2017. It is the 8th company approved for the production of new energy passenger vehicles.
Therefore, SF Motors(JinKang in China) has the same capacity in both China and the United States, it can achieve the same price in China and the United States, so that it will be not affected by the trade between the two countries.
On March 28, 2018, SF Motors made the world debut for its first electric car SF5 in Santa Clara, USA.
SOKON Industry Group
Chongqing Sokon Industry Group was established in 1986, initially starting with the sale of electrical springs and micro-car seat cushion springs. At the beginning of the 21st century, the whole vehicle manufacturing industry began. It is currently an automobile manufacturing enterprise mainly engaged in engines, new energy vehicles and automobile vehicles.
Zhang Zhengping, founder and CEO of SF Motors, is the son of Zhang Xinghai, the chairman of Sokon Industry Group.
