New AITO M9 Begins Customer Deliveries June 13 as Cumulative Sales Top 285,000 Units

The flagship full-size SUV from Huawei’s HIMA alliance hits a fresh milestone on June 13, 2026, as the new AITO M9 officially opened nationwide customer deliveries. Priced from RMB 479,800 (about USD 66,200) for the Max+ trim, RMB 539,800 (USD 74,500) for the Ultra, and RMB 649,800 (USD 89,600) for the long-wheelbase Ultimate edition, the refreshed M9 has already generated extraordinary momentum: AITO confirmed at the handover ceremony that the M9 nameplate has now surpassed 285,000 cumulative deliveries, cementing its place as the best-selling premium SUV above RMB 500,000 in China for two years running.

For overseas readers tracking the rise of HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), this latest M9 represents the most aggressive over-the-shelf upgrade Huawei and Seres have ever pushed into a model mid-cycle, with more than 140 individual technical changes versus the prior MY2025 car. It also follows the broader Chinese-luxury push toward L3-ready autonomy, 800V architecture, and digital chassis tech that we’ve covered in our all-new Li Auto L8 5-seat flagship SUV feature.

Pricing, Trims, and Delivery Timeline

The new M9 lineup launched on May 27, 2026, with three trims:

• Max+: RMB 479,800 (USD 66,200) — five-seat or six-seat configurable cabin, dual-motor AWD, 800V SiC, ADS 4.0 base sensor pack.
• Ultra: RMB 539,800 (USD 74,500) — adds 192-line LiDAR, advanced rear-axle steering, second-row zero-gravity seats with massage and heating/cooling.
• Ultimate (Long Wheelbase, Lingshi): RMB 649,800 (USD 89,600) — Ultimate trim with extended wheelbase, executive rear lounge, deliveries scheduled to start in August 2026.

Today’s June 13 delivery launch covers the Max+ and Ultra trims; the Lingshi long-wheelbase variant will follow once Seres’ Chongqing super-factory completes the second-line tooling adjustments needed for the longer floorpan.

Why 285,000 Cumulative Deliveries Matters

When the original M9 launched in late 2023, very few industry analysts expected a Chinese-built SUV priced above RMB 500,000 to achieve mass-market scale against incumbents like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Audi Q7. The 285,000 figure now puts the M9 ahead of all three combined in 2026 China deliveries year-to-date, an outcome that mirrors the Chinese new-energy reshaping we tracked in our May 2026 China top 10 best-selling cars.

What’s New in the 2026 M9 Refresh

Huawei’s HIMA team highlighted the following upgrades among the 140+ improvements:

• HarmonyOS 5.0 cockpit: spatial audio, multi-screen Pad-like collaboration, and on-device Pangu LLM for natural-language car control.
• ADS 4.0: door-to-door urban + highway autonomy with advanced VRU (vulnerable road user) intent prediction; Ultra trim packages 1× 192-line LiDAR + 4× short-range LiDAR.
• Adaptive air suspension v2: predictive road-scan via stereo cameras + LiDAR, body roll control improved by 18%.
• Long-wheelbase Lingshi (Ultimate) edition: +180 mm wheelbase, second-row reclining lounge with calf rest extending to 175 cm; dual-zone B-pillar OLED control surfaces.

EREV Powertrain Updates

The new M9 retains both extended-range (EREV) and pure-electric variants. The EREV powertrain pairs a 1.5T range-extender (the latest evolution of the Seres-Huawei DriveONE generation 4) with a 52 kWh CATL ternary battery, delivering 275 km of pure-electric range and over 1,400 km combined on the CLTC cycle. Pure-electric M9 BEV variants get a 100 kWh battery with 800V SiC, supporting 5C charging that takes 10–80% in roughly 14 minutes on a 600 kW peak charger.

Production and Quality Strategy

Seres has dedicated its Chongqing Super Factory to M9 + M8 production, running at a current cadence of about 25,000 units per month. The factory uses a heavily AI-controlled pilot line: each M9 receives over 4,000 quality data points before leaving the line, including a unique torque signature for every wheel hub bolt — useful when Seres faced a small recall on early cars and used that signature data to identify affected serials in hours rather than days.

Order Backlog and Wait Times

According to AITO’s user channel chief at the June 13 ceremony, current order backlog for the new M9 sits at approximately 49,000 units. Delivery wait time for new orders placed today is 6–8 weeks for Max+/Ultra, and roughly 12 weeks for the Lingshi Ultimate (after its August launch).

Competitive Landscape: Who Should Worry?

The M9 is now actively cannibalizing premium ICE/MHEV SUV demand. In May 2026, the M9 outsold the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X7, Audi Q7, and Lexus LX combined by an approximate factor of 2.3×. Domestic competitors emerging in the >RMB 500K segment include the Li Auto MEGA (MPV format), Avatr 12, Zeekr 9X (slated for late 2026), and the upcoming Hongqi Tian Gong 09. AITO’s strategic moat remains the HarmonyOS + ADS bundle, plus the user-network effect of HIMA dealer experience centers.

FAQ

When does the new AITO M9 Lingshi long-wheelbase Ultimate begin deliveries?

The Ultimate Lingshi long-wheelbase trim begins customer deliveries in August 2026, while Max+ and Ultra start delivery on June 13, 2026.

What is the current backlog for the new AITO M9?

AITO disclosed approximately 49,000 units backlog as of the June 13, 2026 delivery ceremony, translating to 6–8 week wait times on Max+/Ultra and roughly 12 weeks on the Ultimate Lingshi trim once it launches.

How does the new M9 compare to the Mercedes-Benz GLS or BMW X7?

The new M9 outsold the GLS, X7, and Audi Q7 combined by roughly 2.3× in May 2026 China sales, driven by its 800V architecture, ADS 4.0 autonomy, HarmonyOS 5.0 cockpit, and pricing roughly 25–35% below those German rivals when comparably specified.

What is the EV-only and combined range of the new M9 EREV?

The EREV trim delivers 275 km pure-electric range on a 52 kWh battery and over 1,400 km combined CLTC with a 1.5T range-extender; pure-electric (BEV) trims pack a 100 kWh battery on 800V SiC architecture with 5C peak charging.

Editor’s note: The new AITO M9 launch shows that Huawei’s HIMA strategy now runs deep enough to redefine the premium SUV segment in China. International readers should view the 285,000-unit milestone as a structural shift, not a one-off — the M9 platform will arrive in right-hand-drive Hong Kong and Macau markets later in 2026, with selected ASEAN markets under evaluation for 2027.

Reviewed by Han Liu, Editor, iEVChina

Source: Autohome.com.cn