Huawei reveals SUV, claims it’s a Tesla Model Y beater … only it’s a hybrid

The controversial Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has rolled out what it reckons is a Tesla Model Y beater and borrowed a famous badge from another well-known brand to name it.

Meet the Aito M5, yep as in BMW’s legendary M5 performance sedan.

The Aito M5 is a compact luxury SUV and the second model from Huawei’s joint-venture with the EV start-up Seres, following on from last April’s Seres SF5.

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Aito is the name of the car company emerging from the JV. It means ‘adding intelligence to auto’.

The M5’s emergence places Huawei well ahead of rival technology company Apple, which continues its stop-start plan to develop an EV.

Like the SF5, the M5 will be sold through Huawei stores in China. Huawei is best known globally as a phone maker and has gained notoriety for running afoul of various western governments including in the USA and Australia because of alleged links to China’s ruling Communist Party.

While Huawei says the M5 has better peak power and range than the Model Y, it’s actually a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid and not a pure battery electric car.

The M5’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine acts as a range extender for a 40kWh battery pack. Available in rear or dual e-motor powertrain set-ups, the M5 generates up to 365kW/675Nm and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds.

Huawei claims a 1195km NEDC on a full charge and fuel consumption around 6L/100km. It did not state the range running in pure EV mode.

 The Aito M5 also features Huawei’s new HarmonyOS smart cockpit that allows remote functions like turning on air-conditioning and lights at home while out driving. Huawei watches and phones will also be usable as smart keys.

The interior features a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a glass roof and such luxuries as a crystal gear selector, massaging seats, Nappa leather and 1000 watts-plus of surround sound stereo.

The M5 rolls on a 2880mm wheelbase, has an all-aluminium chassis and multi-link suspension with double wishbones.

The M5 comes in three trims, priced from RMB250,000 ($54,000) to RMB320,000 ($70,000). Deliveries are expected to start in China in late February.