Huawei-backed Aito to equip overseas models with Bosch driver assistance, cockpit and chassis tech

• Overseas versions of the Aito M6, M7, M8 and M9 will be equipped with Bosch's driver assistance, smart cockpit and chassis solutions.
• Huawei has handed the lead on overseas models of Aito and other brands to the automakers.

Aito, the brand jointly built by Huawei and Seres (HKEX: 9927), plans to adopt a "Bosch Inside" cooperation model for its overseas models, co-developing them with Bosch, according to a Tuesday report by local media outlet 36Kr.

The overseas versions of the Aito M6, M7, M8 and M9 will all be equipped with the German auto technology supplier's full suite of intelligent solutions, covering advanced driver assistance, the smart cockpit and the chassis, the report said.

Bosch has already begun development work for Aito's overseas models, with mass production of highway navigate-on-autopilot (NOA) functions tentatively set for September 2027, according to the report.

This means Aito will no longer rely on Huawei's intelligent systems in overseas markets. In China, Huawei's intelligent driving and HarmonySpace cockpit are core selling points underpinning Aito's premium positioning.

Huawei has handed the lead on overseas models of Aito and other brands to the automakers, the report said. A person close to Aito's overseas project said the "Bosch Inside" model is "somewhat similar to Huawei's HI (Huawei Inside) model."

Under the HI model, Huawei acts as a supplier providing full-stack intelligent solutions, while the automaker retains control of the brand and the vehicle.

Seres vice president Kang Bo announced at the 2026 Paris Motor Show on October 12 that Aito will enter the European market in the fall of 2027, unveiling four SUVs -- the Aito 9, Aito 8, Aito 7 and Aito 6. The four models correspond to China's Aito M9, Aito M8, Aito M7 and Aito M6, respectively.

Aito said at the time that it was working with partners to localize its driver assistance and parking assistance features, but did not name the partners.

The tie-up with Bosch is an important step for Aito in advancing regulatory compliance. Bosch is more familiar with overseas regulations and market conditions, and enjoys greater brand recognition. Kang said at the show that Aito is "actively advancing regulatory compliance certification and localized operations."

For Bosch, Aito's overseas project marks the first time its full suite of intelligent solutions will be used in a vehicle, and the 36Kr report said both sides attach great importance to the partnership.

Starting in 2027, Aito models will go overseas. In addition to Europe, Aito may also be sold in the Middle East, according to the 36Kr report. In February this year, the brand signed a cooperation agreement with a UAE dealer, which will be responsible for local sales and after-sales service.

To safeguard the pace of its overseas push, Seres has folded its overseas BU into the Aito BG, making it a sub-department of the latter, 36Kr said, citing a person close to Seres.

When the two departments previously operated in parallel, research and development as well as marketing work for overseas models ran into obstacles. Seres told 36Kr that this claim was untrue.

Besides Aito, Luxeed, the brand jointly built by Huawei and Chery (HKEX: 9973), is also planning an overseas push.

Luxeed has internally set up a "Blue Ocean" project team, which will enter the Middle East in the first phase, Southeast Asia in the second phase, and Europe in the third phase, according to 36Kr.

Luxeed's overseas models will be built on Chery's electrical/electronic architecture, and the initial plan on the intelligence side is to use Chery's Falcon intelligent driving and Lingxi smart cockpit systems -- also forgoing Huawei's solutions.

The Luxeed V9 is expected to be the first to go overseas, while the Luxeed R7 will move more slowly due to regulatory requirements for some components. With limited manpower on the team, development work on Luxeed's overseas models has been handed over to Chery's central R&D institute.

This series of overseas arrangements comes as Huawei adjusts its cooperation model with Seres. On September 15, the two sides announced that Seres would take the lead on Aito's product, marketing, retail and service systems in China, with Huawei participating in an enabling role. The two then signed a new five-year agreement on September 30.

Pressure in the domestic market is the main driver behind local brands accelerating their overseas expansion. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) show that China's vehicle retail sales have fallen year-on-year every month so far this year, with September down 28 percent from a year earlier.

Huawei-led HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), to which Aito belongs, delivered 37,490 vehicles in September, down 29.15 percent year-on-year and the fourth consecutive month of year-on-year decline, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.