Huawei is quickly changing the luxury car market. In a massive surprise, the technology giant’s high-end electric car, the Maextro S800, has become a massive hit in China. New sales data shows that this smart car is now selling much better than legendary luxury cars like the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and the BMW 7 Series.
For a very long time, the most expensive car market in China belonged completely to foreign brands. However, the Maextro S800, which costs around $104,000, has successfully broken that streak.
During recent months, the car did not just beat individual rivals; it managed to sell more units than several top German luxury cars combined. Total sales for this premium car line have already passed 17,000 vehicles in its very first year on the market.
The manufacturing setup behind the car uses a unique partnership system. A car company named JAC Motors builds the physical vehicle at a modern factory in China, but Huawei designs all the smart software and digital systems inside.
This approach is very similar to how the brand makes its smartphones. Instead of selling vehicles at normal car dealerships, the company displays the luxury sedan directly inside its premium flagship stores alongside its latest phones and smartwatches.
Amazing smart features replace old luxury traditions
Experts point out that local car buyers are walking away from old heritage brands because they want advanced digital features. The Maextro S800 is a very long car that treats the inside cabin like a smart office or theater.
The doors open automatically when a camera sees a simple hand gesture from the user. Inside, passengers in the back seat get a massive 40-inch movie projection screen, a powerful 40-speaker sound system, crystal buttons, and a beautiful star-lit ceiling that looks like a Rolls-Royce.
On the hardware side, the car comes as a pure electric vehicle or as a long-range hybrid model that puts out up to 852 horsepower. More importantly, it features the company’s best self-driving software and smart dashboard tools.
Because of trade restrictions, this high-end car is not coming to Western markets anytime soon. However, inside China, the brand is moving very fast. The company plans to release new luxury SUVs and large family vans later this year, and an upcoming ultra-premium model could push prices close to $300,000 by mid-summer.
