Chinese products have come a long way in design, tech, quality, and luxury over the past few decades. So much so that the latest brand to emerge from the People’s Republic—Maextro—thinks it can rival Europe’s most opulent brands, including Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Maybach. Its debut model, the S800, promises similar grandeur at a fraction of the price.

Far from being a plucky upstart (or heaven forbid, some bizarre reboot of the Austin Maestro), the newly formed Maextro brand is a joint venture between tech giant Huawei and Chinese automaker JAC. It’s also the fourth and most ambitious member of Huawei’s HIMA project, taking its place above the Stelato (Huawei/BAIC), Luxeed (Huawei/Chery), and AITO (Huawei/Seres) collaborations.

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As the debut model for the fledgling brand, the Maextro S800 was unveiled ahead of its spring 2025 market launch. The electric sedan sticks to a tried-and-tested luxury formula: a long hood, a bowed roofline flowing cleanly into the rear, and a wheelbase that stretches out like it has something to prove.

Derivative Styling

While China’s auto industry has arguably progressed in design over the years, the Maextro S800 stumbles into a familiar trap—derivative styling. Rather than forging a bold new identity, it borrows liberally (and not always successfully) from Europe’s luxury playbook.

The disc wheels are unmistakably Rolls-Royce-inspired, the chrome-accented lower bumper intake feels like a Bentley afterthought, and the bi-tone exterior treatment screams Maybach. As for the rear, its slightly hunched profile is uncomfortably reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera. To its credit, the S800 does manage a few original touches, including unique star-patterned door handles and intricately designed LED lighting, but these flourishes aren’t quite enough to shake its patchwork aesthetic.

Size Matters, Apparently

Yu Chengdong (also known as Richard Yu), the CEO of Huawei Technologies Consumer Business Group, couldn’t resist boasting that the Maextro S800 is bigger than 99.99% of the cars on Chinese roads. Measuring 5,480 mm (215.7 inches) in length, 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) in width, and 1,536 mm (60.5 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 3,370 mm (132.7 inches), the S800 certainly isn’t lacking in size.

This footprint is very similar to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which served as a benchmark for the Chinese model. However, it falls 65 mm (2.6 inches) shy of the Rolls-Royce Ghost, and if you’re aiming for Phantom EWB levels of grandeur, you’ll need an extra 502 mm (19.8 inches) to get there.

A Glimpse Inside

The interior, revealed through a single teaser photo, hints at opulence but leaves much to the imagination. The so-called “starry sky” roof, a feature borrowed from Rolls-Royce’s greatest hits, offers a celestial ambiance, while high-quality materials for the upholstery aim to enhance the cabin’s appeal.

The back seats suggest a four-seater layout, catering to those who prefer being chauffeured over driving themselves. And because this is a Huawei-backed venture, you can expect the latest tech, including an AI-powered assistance system and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

Built on Huawei’s Tuling Intelligent Chassis, the Maextro S800 remains tight-lipped on its full electric powertrain specs. Those details are expected to drop closer to its market launch in spring 2025.

Pricing

However, one thing is already clear; this EV is priced to compete. Pre-orders in China are now open with a deposit of ¥20,000 ($2,800), and final pricing is anticipated to fall between ¥1-1.5 million ($137,800-$206,700). That slots the S800 directly against heavyweights like the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7 in the luxury electric sedan segment.

Photos: Maextro, Chu Xiaomin, Wild 11 / Weibo

While many Western carmakers have eased off on concept cars since the pandemic, Chinese brands are showing no signs of slowing down. Chery’s latest effort, the Hunting Wild, previews what could be the next chapter for their Fulwin series sporting an aerodynamic that straddles the line between a wagon and a minivan paired, all paired with next-generation solid-state battery technology.

The concept measures 5,053 mm (198.9 inches) in length, 2,010 mm (79.1 inches) in width, and 1,560 mm (61.4 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 3,100 mm (122 inches). For comparison, that’s the same length as BMW i5 Touring but with a noticeably wider stance and a wheelbase stretched to limousine-like proportions.

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At least in conceptual form, it’s an interesting design—even if, as with many Chinese models, there are a many familiar styling elements borrowed from elsewhere. Up front, a black trim piece integrates everything from split-LED headlights to an illuminated Chery emblem and ADAS sensors. Below that, the bumper features an active grille and sculpted side cooling intakes.

The futuristic aero-optimized wheels measure 21 inches at the front and 22 inches at the rear. Other highlights include the frameless windows, the lack of door handles, and the large rear wing. Chery designers added Fulwin logos on the headlights, wheels, side gills, and full-width LED taillights.

Chery hasn’t released interior photos yet, but the spec list paints a picture of a tech-filled cabin. Highlights include a 15.6-inch infotainment display, AI-powered voice controls, a sprawling 23-speaker sound system, and reclining rear seats with leg rests. Topping it off is a color-changing dome skylight integrated into the panoramic roof.

In terms of the electrified powertrain, information from Chinese media is contradicting. Either way, the real star is the 800V solid-state battery, expected to deliver significantly improved driving range. Solid-state batteries have been touted as the holy grail of EV tech for years, and while they’re not quite here yet, Chery’s ambitious timeline suggests production readiness by 2026.

The chassis is reportedly equipped with a dual-chamber air suspension, Brembo brakes, and four-wheel steering. Additionally, the concept is expected to feature advanced self-driving capabilities.

The Chery Hunting Wild concept will make its first public outing on November 15, at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show. Judging from the fact that solid-state battery technology is still under development, we don’t expect a market launch earlier than 2026. When it does enter production, the model will rival the likes of the Zeekr 001, Neta S Wagon, and Nio ET5T.

GAC has shared the first photos of its Aion UT on social media, ahead of its official debut at the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show on November 15. The Chinese hatchback is being marketed as a “global strategic model” and will feature a fully electric powertrain, with dimensions similar to the VW ID.3.

The GAC Aion UT adopts a friendly look, with plenty of curves, a grille-less front end and sleek LED headlights. Overall, the styling language is reminiscent of the recently revealed Geome Xingyuan by the rival Geely brand. The interior is typical of Chinese EVs with a large Tesla-like infotainment screen, a two-spoke steering wheel, a floating center console, and colorful inserts.

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According to data from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the GAC Aion UT measures 4,270 mm (168.1 inches) in length, 1,850 mm (72.8 inches) in width, and 1,575 mm (62 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm (108.3 inches). These dimensions are comparable to other electric hatchbacks, including the VW ID.3, the MG4, and the global-spec BYD Dolphin.

Power comes from a single electric motor producing 134 hp (100 kW / 136 PS). Energy is sourced in a lithium iron phosphate battery pack of unknown capacity. The official sketches suggest the EV will offer over 600 km (373 miles) of range, though the larger GAC Aion RT electric sedan, with its 68.1 kWh battery, is rated for up to 650 km (400 miles) of CLTC range.

Car News China reports that the GAC Aion UT will be priced from under ¥100,000 ($13,800) in the People’s Republic, matching the starting price of the BYD Dolphin (¥99,800 / $13,800). More importantly, the GAC Aion UT will undercut both the MG4 (¥115,800 / $16,000) and the VW ID.3 (¥129,900 / $18,000) in China.

GAC Aion is the best-selling sub-brand of the GAC Group, specializing in fully electric vehicles. Besides China, the marque currently operates in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The brand’s three “global strategic models” include the Aion V SUV, the Aion RT sedan, and the Aion UT hatchback.

GAC Aion / Weibo