They call it “China Speed”, and once again, it’s on full display.
In China, automakers move fast. Development cycles are short. New tech rolls out quickly. Over-the-air updates, like Deepseek AI, launch almost instantly.
I first heard the term when the Li Auto L6 launched. Just days after the reveal, I saw it in a local showroom. It was already available for purchase.
Now, Huawei’s Aito brand has done it again. Their newest crossover, the Aito M8, is already in stores—just weeks after its debut and ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show.
Aito, a Huawei-owned brand, builds extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). The M8 sits below the M9, but above the M7 and M5 in the lineup. It uses a 1.5-liter turbo engine paired with a battery, offering up to 948 miles (1,526 km) of range.
The big draw? HarmonyOS—Huawei’s in-house operating system. It powers the M8’s infotainment, just like it does Huawei phones and tablets.
You can even buy the M8 in a Huawei store. Right next to smartphones and laptops.
Xiaomi’s SU7 follows a similar strategy, combining devices and vehicles in one seamless tech ecosystem.
Inside, the M8 is all about luxury. Expect big screens, soft-touch materials, and advanced features. But the real story is speed—from announcement to dealership in weeks.
By contrast, the Honda Prelude Prototype was shown in mid-2023. Yet buyers are still waiting. Meanwhile, Aito unveiled the M8 in March. It’s already being delivered.
That’s China Speed—where concept meets customer with no time wasted.
