- Aito has begun EU whole-vehicle type approval work and will showcase 4 SUVs at the Paris Motor Show.
- Aito has already signed a UAE dealer agreement, and the European plan would further expand its overseas footprint.
Aito, the brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres (HKEX: 9927), plans to enter the European market in 2027, adding a new target to its overseas expansion.
Local media outlet Cailian reported the plan on Monday, citing information it had exclusively obtained, and said Aito had begun work on EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA).
Aito will showcase 4 SUVs — the Aito 6, Aito 7, Aito 8 and Aito 9 — at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the report noted.
The report did not disclose which European countries Aito would enter first, which models it would launch or their prices.
Seres said in an October 11 Weibo post that Aito would appear at the Paris Motor Show from October 12 to 18, sharing promotional material featuring the Aito M9. The post did not mention a timeline for entering Europe.
Seres previously said it was steadily advancing plans to take Aito’s full lineup overseas while building a global sales and service network, positioning the brand at the premium end of international markets.
Aito had already been expanding in the Middle East before the European plan emerged. In February, the brand signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Performance Plus Motors, a subsidiary of UAE dealer Abu Dhabi Motors.
Under the arrangements announced at the time, Performance Plus Motors would handle sales, deliveries and after-sales services for Aito vehicles in the UAE, with plans to establish brand experience and service centers.
Aito said at the time that local customer test drives of its flagship Aito 9 had begun in the UAE. The model is known as the Aito M9 in China.
Seres itself has previously operated in Europe. In June 2023, the company delivered its first Seres 5 vehicles in Bergen, Norway, through local dealer Sandven AS.
Aito’s European plan also comes as Huawei and Seres deepen their cooperation on the brand. The companies signed a new 5-year agreement on September 30 and announced on October 1 that they would jointly establish a dedicated Aito team.
The companies had previously announced on September 15 that Seres would take the lead in Aito’s product operations, marketing, retail and service network, with Huawei providing support. The brand would remain within the Huawei-led HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance).
The announcement of the new 5-year agreement confirmed plans for the joint dedicated team but did not clarify whether the previously announced leadership arrangements had changed.
Source: cnevpost.com
