The rise of the Maextro S800 shows that Chinese electric cars are no longer outside the ultra-luxury segment, as this model is outselling icons like Porsche and BMW.
The Maextro S800 is enjoying impressive sales figures in the luxury sedan segment. Photo: CnEVPost.
The Chinese automotive industry is showing significant progress in the luxury car segment, long dominated by European brands. The Maextro S800, a premium electric sedan developed by Huawei and JAC Group, has surpassed the Porsche Panamera and BMW 7 Series in sales in the world's largest car market.
According to data from ECC Intelligence, 2,145 Maestro S800s were delivered in mainland China in November. This figure is higher than the combined sales of the Porsche Panamera and BMW 7 Series during the same period. Specifically, the Panamera sold 1,200 units, while the BMW 7 Series delivered 928 units to customers.
Priced between 708,000 and 1 million yuan ( US$ 100,555-142,000), the Maextro S800 currently leads sales in the luxury sedan segment in China. According to ECC Intelligence, the model has held the top spot for three consecutive months since September, with monthly deliveries hovering around 1,900 units and remaining stable in October.
The S800 is a collaborative product between Huawei, a major Chinese telecommunications technology group, and JAC Group, a state-owned automaker. Launched in late May, the model includes both an all-electric version and an extended-range version, targeting high-end customers in the domestic market.
Previously, the luxury car segment in China was largely dominated by international brands, especially those with internal combustion engines from Germany. However, the initial success of the Maextro S800 shows that Chinese automakers are becoming increasingly confident in competing directly in the high-value product group.
Tian Maowei, sales manager at Yiyou Auto Service in Shanghai, believes that Maextro's business results could further motivate Chinese manufacturers to develop more expensive electric vehicle models. He argues this could pave the way for them to compete with international brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The Maextro S800 surpassed sales figures for many luxury car models from BMW and Porsche. Photo: Huawei .
However, he also believes that domestically produced luxury cars still need time to prove their quality and long-term durability, especially when aiming to win over wealthy customers.
In the mainstream segment, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers like BYD and Leapmotor have surpassed many foreign competitors as consumers seek smart cars priced under 150,000 yuan. Over the past three years, major players like Volkswagen and General Motors have continuously lost market share due to their slow adaptation to the electrification trend.
According to the China Passenger Car Association, approximately 60% of new cars sold in mainland China are now purely electric or hybrid vehicles. The association previously predicted that by the end of 2024, international automakers could lose up to $20 billion in annual profits in the billion-person market due to the rapid shift towards electric and smart vehicles.