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