The launch of the Aito M8 on April 16 marked a key milestone for Seres. As the fourth model co-developed with Huawei, this family SUV is priced between 359,800 and 449,800 yuan, strategically positioned between the M7 and M9. Offering premium features like LiDAR and the HarmonyOS cockpit, the M8 delivers high-end tech at around 100,000 yuan less than the M9—making it a compelling value in the lineup.
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Seres Rebounds in April with New Model M8 and Upgraded M9
Chongqing— Seres saw a turnaround in April, selling 31,488 new energy vehicles—a 12.99% increase from a year ago. It marks the company’s first year-on-year NEV growth in 2025 after a decline in the first quarter.
At the factory of Seres in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, cars wait for delivery. (Photo/Wang Jiaxi)
Seres, an automaker based in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, has rapidly gained traction in China's NEV market through its collaboration with Huawei. Its flagship model, the Aito M9, leverages advanced intelligent driving technologies and has attracted many former owners of luxury internal combustion engine vehicles from brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. The M9 has topped China’s luxury vehicle sales chart in the 500,000-yuan (69,435 USD) segment for 11 consecutive months.
However, Seres experienced a downturn in Q1 2025, with NEV sales declining year-on-year each month. According to Securities Times, analysts from Guolian Minsheng Securities attribute the slowdown to a model transition period, with consumers delaying purchases in anticipation of new releases. With the launch and delivery of the 2025 Aito M9 and the debut of the Aito M8, the company is expected to enter a new growth phase.
On March 20, Huawei and Seres jointly launched the Aito M9 2025 Edition. (Photo/Seres)
Seres reported that prior to the launch of the upgraded Aito M9 on March 20, monthly sales had declined from 12,483 units in January to 5,571 in February and 5,236 in March. In April—the first full month of delivery for the new M9—sales surged to 13,149 units, showing signs of recovery.
Launched on April 16, the Aito M8 is a family-oriented SUV priced between 359,800 and 449,800 yuan. (Photo/Seres)
In less than a month since its launch, Seres has received over 70,000 pre-orders for the M8, indicating strong market interest. These customers have placed deposits and are now awaiting delivery.
According to Seres's 2024 annual report, the company sold 426,885 NEVs in 2024—an 182.84% year-on-year increase. However, given the sales trend in the first four months of 2025, maintaining last year’s delivery volume remains a challenge.
Currently, Seres has not disclosed detailed delivery data for the Aito M8, making it difficult to assess its full impact on the company’s annual performance. While the pre-order figures suggest strong demand, actual deliveries may vary due to cancellations, production capacity, and inventory strategies.
Meanwhile, an article on www.dongchedi.com—a leading Chinese platform for automotive news and services—points out that the Aito M8 still struggles to stand out against mainstream family SUVs like the Li Auto L9. The piece notes that the M8 lacks clear advantages in crucial areas such as interior space and intelligent driving features, making its goal of reaching 20,000 monthly sales a challenging one.
Seres' sales rebound in April also reflects broader momentum in China’s NEV market. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the country sold 1.226 million NEVs in April, up 44.2% year-on-year. NEVs accounted for 47.3% of the 2.59 million total new vehicles sold that month.
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