Bank of America reviewed Huawei-owned AITO’s M9 SUV following the vehicle’s official launch on December 26th. AITO is offering the M9 in both EREV and BEV versions available in Max and Ultra variants.
The BEV version of the M9 features a 100kWh battery pack, providing a driving range of 630km under CLTC conditions, with an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. On the other hand, the EREV version offers an extended range of up to 1,393km and achieves a fuel efficiency of 6.9L/100km. In EV mode, it can cover a distance of up to 275km, with an acceleration from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.
The retail price for the M9 ranges from RMB469.8-569.8k, which is lower than its initial pre-sales price set at RMB500-600k. However, compared to Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI)'s L9 priced at RMB400-430k (after accounting for a recent ~RMB30k price reduction), the AITO M9 is more expensive.
Additionally, the M9's retail price is slightly higher than what the market had anticipated.
However, Bank of America analysts wrote in a note, “We see ATIO M9 performing better in terms of performance-to-cost, smart cabin, and ADAS.”
The M9 boasts a Tuling intelligent chassis, featuring a close air suspension and CDC variable damping shock absorber. Additionally, it comes equipped with the HUAWEI DATS system and the HUAWEI xMotion intelligent body collaborative control system.
The M9 is equipped with Huawei's ADS 2.0 system for ADAS, expected to support City NCA by the end of 2023. It features advanced technology such as one 192-line LiDAR (with a 250-meter detection range, 20% higher than the industry average), eleven cameras, three mmWave radars, and twelve ultrasonic sensors.
Inside the smart cabin, the M9 runs on Huawei's Harmony OS and includes a 12.3-inch LCD instrument panel, a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, a 16-inch entertainment screen for the co-pilot seat, a foldable 32-inch projection screen in the middle of the car, and optional 10-inch screens for the second and third-row seats.
Additionally, the M9 is equipped with a 75-inch AR-HUD with 2k resolution and supports cinematic projections of over 100 inches through its lighting system.
Mass delivery of the model is expected to start on February 26, 2024. It competes with models such as the Benz GLS, BMW (ETR:BMWG) X7, Li Auto L9, and NIO ES8 in terms of pricing, segmentation, and car size.