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We’ve been hearing rumblings about Huawei’s EV for years, and now it is finally here. Huawei Luxeed S7 is a sedan launched jointly by the Chinese OEM and Cherry. It aims to challenge Elon Musk’s Tesla Model S.
Following the United States sanctions on Huawei, the tech firm decided to diversify its portfolio and enter new business segments. We first heard about Huawei’s adventure in the EV segment a few years ago when it turned to different Chinese automakers for its project.
On November 9, Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s intelligent vehicle solutions business unit, finally unveiled the Luxeed, a joint EV brand between Huawei and Cherry. This is Huawei’s second take in the EV segment after Aito M9, which emerged in 2021.
While the official launch and regular sale is scheduled for the end of this month, the Luxeed S7 is now open for pre-orders at just 258,000 yuan ($35,400). Richard Yu formerly said the Luxeed S7 can surpass Model S “in every specification.”
Huawei Luxeed S7 is a competitor to Tesla Model S
As a mid-to-large sedan, the Luxeed S7 is available in Pro, Max, Max+, and Max RS variants. Each model launches with its specifications and range. The most expensive model is Max RS, which costs around 358,000 yuan ($49,000). The four versions have CLTC ranges of 550 km, 705 km, 800 km, and 630 km, respectively.
The Luxeed S7 is also available in single-motor (215 kW) and dual-motor (215 kW + 150 kW) four-wheel drive variants. The dual motor model can hit the 100 KM milestone in just 3.3 seconds.
The vehicle is built based on Huawei’s “Giant Whale” 800 V high-voltage platform and uses the thinnest 800 V battery pack ever made. While we don’t know how much it takes to charge the vehicle fully, Yu said the Luxeed S7 has a range of 200 KM with just five minutes of charging. It can also travel 400 km with 15 minutes of charging. In comparison, the Tesla Model S ranges 347 KM after the same charging period.
On paper, Huawei Luxeed S7 mileage and specification seem irresistible, and it could certainly take on the Tesla Model S. Huawei’s EV also has an easier job convincing local customers as the basic Model S in China costs around 698,900 (($95,800).