Formerly called DFSK Motor, Seres partnered with technology giant Huawei in 2021 to launch the Aito brand of premium electric and range extended electric SUVs. Since then, Seres has had a meteoric rise. Sales tripled in three years to around 427,000 vehicles in 2024, while the company’s Shanghai-listed stock is up 120 percent.

Aito, through its M9 SUV, became the best-selling car brand in China last year in the 500,000 yuan and above category, despite the vehicle only being launched at the end of 2023. Deliveries of the spacious model, which features Huawei’s Harmony operating system, a triple-screen dashboard and options such as a dual-zone refrigerator and ambient lighting, were around 151,000 units, according to Chinese industry data.

Fronting the media in 2022, Seres Chairman Zhang Xinghai said many doubted that Seres, which up until that point mainly made cheap minivans, and Huawei, which had never made vehicles before, could manufacture a luxury marque. He proved them wrong. It’s often thought that newer automakers with zero pedigree couldn’t match legacy brands and the prestige they offered; this is something Aito successfully overcame.

Aito, however, doesn’t have its share of challenges. The luxury car market is expected to decline in China due to an economic slowdown and weak consumer sentiment there. This has triggered a substantial price war slowing not just Aito, but Seres’ growth. It’s for this reason why Aito is starting to expand to global markets.

In the Philippines, Aito is distributed by QSJ Motors. They currently offer the Aito M5, Aito M7, and most recently, they also launched the Aito M9. Read our review of the Aito M5 (formerly known as the Seres S5).