At the 2025 Toyota Technology Day in China, there was no shortage of promises and future-focused tech talk. While much of the spotlight was on product updates, the real takeaway was Toyota’s push to inject artificial intelligence and advanced electrification into its lineup, especially in partnership with local tech giants.

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Among the headline announcements, next-generation versions of the Highlander and Sienna will feature extended-range electric powertrains. Alongside these updates, Toyota and its local joint venture partner GAC laid out plans for two new energy vehicle platforms and confirmed strategic collaborations with Chinese heavyweights like Huawei and Xiaomi.

Two New EV Platforms in the Pipeline

Starting with the new platforms, they are designed for “new energy vehicles”, meaning they will be compatible with fully electric, range-extender, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. One platform is optimized for compact to mid-size vehicles under 5 meters long (196.9 inches), while the other is designed for larger vehicles up to 5.3 meters (208.7 inches).

Toyota’s upcoming bZ7 will be the first model to use the larger of the two new platforms. Serving as the brand’s electric flagship in China, depending on pricing, it could positioned as an affordable rival to the similarly sized Tesla Model S. Although the bZ7 was first previewed in April 2025, its launch in the Chinese market is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

This model also marks a major shift in Toyota’s tech strategy. The fully electric bZ7 will be the first to feature the Huawei DriveONE powertrain, which combines the motor, MCU, and inverter into a single integrated unit. Inside, it gets the Huawei Hongmeng cockpit system, offering an updated suite of apps and connectivity options. It will also come equipped with a LiDAR sensor, suggesting it’s being prepped for advanced autonomous driving capabilities.

AI, ADAS, and the “Caring Butler” Future

Besides the new platforms that are being developed in China, GAC Toyota is working on a new electronic architecture that will support the next generation of ADAS and advanced intelligent cockpits. Artificial intelligence is expected to play a growing role in how these systems evolve.

According to Chinese outlet Sohu, GAC believes the in-car voice assistant will become a “caring butler” by 2026–2027, and by 2028, it’s expected to mature into a “symbiotic partner” capable of intuitively responding to user needs, even claiming to “read people’s hearts.”

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The Japanese automaker will also collaborate with Xiaomi for in-vehicle technology, such as audio, and a clever intercommunication system between front and rear occupants using the built-in screens and cameras.

Digital Chassis and Broader AI Integration

Looking further ahead, upcoming GAC Toyota models will feature an AI-powered “intelligent digital chassis.” This system will be able to read road conditions in real time, adjusting suspension characteristics through electromagnetic shock absorbers and dual-chamber air suspension systems, which sounds similar to what Tesla is offering on higher end models.

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GAC Toyota also envisions an AI ecosystem extending beyond vehicles. The company plans to integrate AI into areas like research and development, manufacturing, quality inspection, and logistics. What’s less clear is whether any of these innovations will make their way into Toyota’s global product lines, or if they’ll remain exclusive to the Chinese market.

Luxury on a budget is no longer a contradiction, at least not in China, where local automakers are figuring out how to give European giants a run for their money. The latest example is the Maextro S800, a full-size flagship luxury sedan that blends design cues from both Mercedes-Maybach and (mainly) Rolls-Royce, with a price tag that’s far more down to earth. It’s the result of a joint venture between JAC and Huawei, and it’s already creating a stir in the domestic market.

With styling that leans heavily into the opulence of its European inspirations, the S800 tries hard to look the part of a six-figure cruiser. Apparently, the effort is paying off. In just the first week after launch, 3,600 orders were placed. Around 1,600 of those came within the first 24 hours, and by day two, that number had jumped to 2,100.

Read: Huawei’s Maextro S800 Looks Like Someone Put A Maybach, A Rolls And A Porsche In The Blender

A key part of the S800’s appeal is the price. The base version starts at 708,000 yuan or roughly $98,600 at current exchange rates. Those seeking even more luxury can buy the flagship version priced from 1,018,000 yuan ( $141,600).

It’s still a hefty price, but it comes in well below the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which starts at 1,468,000 yuan ($204,600) before options. And compared to a Rolls-Royce? The Ghost begins at around 4.2 million yuan, or roughly $585,000, putting the S800 in a completely different financial universe.

Chinese buyers seem to be getting a lot of car for their money. First and foremost, the S800 is big. It is 5,480 mm (215.7 inches) long, 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) wide, and stands 1,536 mm (60.5 inches) high with a 3,370 mm (132.7-inch) wheel base, similar dimensions to an S-Class. However, whereas the Mercedes has a relatively understated (for what it is, anyway) design, the S800 makes a more grandiose impression on the road.

Tech-Laden Interior with Lounge-Like Options

Maextro S800

Then there’s the cabin. The S800 features a digital gauge cluster, a 15.6-inch infotainment display, and a 16-inch passenger display. It also has a wide head-up display, two wireless smartphone chargers, and an audio system with an incredible 43 speakers, Autohome reports. Maextro offers the S800 as either a four-seater, with captain’s chairs at the back, or as a more conventional five-seater.

Multiple Powertrain Choices, Including a 852 HP Option

The S800 is available in both fully electric and range-extended versions. The battery electric model uses a 95 kWh pack paired with dual motors producing 523 horsepower. The range-extender version adds a 1.5-liter engine that works purely as a generator, coupled with a 65 kWh battery and the same 523 hp dual-motor setup. For those who believe too much power is just enough, there’s also a tri-motor EREV variant cranking out 852 horsepower.

It’s no secret that Western brands are having a tough time in China after making bank for years. Sales are falling as buyers turn to domestic brands that are gaining ground fast and in some instances overtaking legacy automakers. BMW and Mercedes were comprehensively outsold in 2024 by a brand that didn’t even exist four years earlier.

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That brand is Aito, one that you might not have heard of even if you’re familiar with other Chinese automaker like XPeng, Xiaomi and Nio that we frequently cover here at Carscoops. Aito was born in 2021 when smartphone maker Huawei teamed up with Seres Group, a company once known for its basic mini trucks and minivans whose twin kidney grilles were shameless rip-offs of BMW’s.

Two brands, one with no high-end car-building expertise and the other completely new to to car game? It doesn’t sound like the basis for a company that could crush the kings of Western luxury carmaking within a few short years, but that’s exactly what has happened. Seres Group’s total vehicle sales trebled in three years to 427,000 according to figures quoted by Bloomberg, and Aito’s success was a major driver.

Aito’s Breakthrough Year

Atio sold 151,000 luxury cars last year – defined as vehicles costing over ¥500,000 ($69k) – making it the most popular brand in the luxury segment. BMW came second with 145,000 units and Mercedes was a distant third having delivered 127,000 cars. Fourth-placed Land Rover scraped 50,000 sales and Porsche, whose China woes are well known, secured fifth spot with 48,0000 units delivered, ThinkerCar’s data shows.

Because most of Aito’s models fall below the ¥500k luxury threshold, the heavy lifting at the high end was handled by the brand’s M9, an SUV that’s roughly the same size as China’s long-wheelbase BMW X5 and comes with a triple-screen dashboard and a choice of range-extender and full EV powertrains.

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Aito isn’t slowing down. The company launched a slightly smaller version of the M9 this year called the M8, which is just 40 mm (1.6 in) shorter, and it’s set to continue cranking up the heat on Western luxury brands in 2025. However, even Aito has to contend with a general slowdown in luxury car demand and an all-out price war. Still, it’s clear that the brand’s rapid ascent is far from a fluke.