Just when we thought we’d seen the end of new Chinese car brands emerging out of thin air, a new brand that hopes to go after Mercedes-Maybach and Rolls-Royce has been formed. It’s dubbed Maextro, and it comes from the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) umbrella, which already includes brands like Aito from Seres, Luxeed from Chery, and Stelato from BAIC. Huawei is behind HIMA. So, what is Maextro? The brand will create vehicles in the ultra-high-end Chinese market, priced from above 1 million yuan or around US$ 140,000 in current exchange rates. Its first model has been spied testing under camouflage and body cladding and takes the shape of a large MPV, aiming to compete with other luxurious MPVs out of China, including the Li Auto Mega and Zeekr 009.
The MPV, which doesn’t yet have a name, is
in the early verification stage and should hit the production line by the end
of the year, before reaching the hands of customers in 2025. Most of the
important design details are still hidden from view, but it reportedly has a
3.2-meter wheelbase. All up, the MPV is said to stretch 5.2 meters.
Car News China believes that the MPV will
be based on a new platform, known as the X6. This platform will underpin other
future models from the Maextro brand, including sedans, SUVs, and sports cars.
One key detail on the vehicle’s exterior is a roof-mounted LiDAR, designed to
support Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0 driver assistance system. The text of the
camouflage also suggests the MPV will come equipped with a refrigerator and a
large projector in the second row.
If Maextro is serious about competing
against the European, and Chinese rivals, then it had better ensure the cabin
is as plush and luxurious as possible. Zeekr nailed the high-end brief with the
interior of the 009, so here’s hoping Maextro can do the same.
