You can be excused if you’ve never heard of AITO (that’s Adding Intelligence to Auto), yet another of a seemingly never-ending list of nascent, Chinese luxury brands flooding the market, utilizing a range of new energy vehicle (NEV) powertrains, namely EVs and EREVs, or extended range electric vehicles, in addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrids. Only in operation since 2021 and producing its first vehicles in 2022, AITO is using Munich’s 2025 IAA Mobility Show to debut a trio of its existing SUVs, dubbed the AITO Model 9, 7, and 5, in advance of the brand’s impending European launch.
AITO (the brand was started by parent company Seres in collaboration with Hauwei) says its number-badged models (it offers four in all including a Model 8) are loaded with high-tech including AI-enabled interactive features, advanced driver assistance tech (ADAS), and optional range-extending EREV powertrains, which use a hybrid system to charge the vehicle’s battery (it appears only the EREV versions will be available in Europe at launch). And of course, the Model 9 especially comes equipped with a range of high-end amenities. From what we’ve been able to glean thus far, AITO’s EV only offerings at least look to be comparable in performance to what you’ll find powering similar models from mainstream global automakers. Here’s a quick look at what we know about the AITOs:
AITO Model 9 — The “All-scenario Intelligent Flagship SUV” (EV/EREV)
The 9 is the brand’s top-dog SUV, and as such, it has a solid amount of power from what we’ve been able to glean, with a big, 100-kWh battery pack for the EV model. We don’t exactly know what all-scenario entails (for example, it sure doesn’t look like it could handle a challenging off-road scenario). But we do know it’s a six-seat model, with an optional 5-seat version with an ability to fold down the front passenger seat to turn the second row passenger seat into a super lounge chair type, “zero gravity” arrangement. It also has the requisite fold down tables and video tablets that Chinese luxury SUVs and minivans usually come with, a front panoramic wraparound screen in the cockpit, a 2,500-watt sound system, and a 20- or 32-inch fold down TV type screen.
As for the Model 9’s ADAS systems, it comes equipped with no less than 27 radar sensors and cameras, including one 192-laser Lidar, three automated parking assist systems, and an augmented reality heads-up display. Here’s what we know below about the Model 9 from a powertrain perspective. Take these numbers with a couple of grains of salt given the sources we’ve been able to find for them, and the ratings systems Chinese automakers use to estimate range, called the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle). All numbers below are rated in CLTC, the numbers of which we’ve found to be inflated relative to the EPA rating system.
During our trip to China in 2024, we drove a number of Chinese EVs,