Huawei’s Maextro S800, a 5.48-meter electric sedan, enters the luxury market with high-end features, advanced tech, and aggressive pricing. Early sales in China point to a changing landscape for premium cars.
When Huawei and JAC brought the Maextro S800 to Chinese showrooms, it caught the attention of the luxury car world. Some reports have claimed this 5.48-meter electric sedan outsold the combined flagships of Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Maybach, and Porsche in China within six months, but these numbers have not been independently confirmed. Industry analysts note that such claims rely on unverified sources and are not backed by official Chinese registration data or primary sales reports.
The Maextro S800 stands out for more than its size or its illuminated trim and star-patterned headlights. It is a direct challenge to the Mercedes Clase S, aiming to match its comfort and technology while coming in at a lower price. The base S800 starts at about €86,000 in China, with the top version reaching €124,000—figures that undercut established European rivals. Maextro is a premium joint venture between Huawei and JAC, and the S800 is its first major release, as confirmed by several industry publications.
Публикации отраслевых СМИ отмечают, что Maextro S800 стал витриной технологических возможностей Huawei в сегменте ультра-люкс и первым заметным продуктом нового премиального бренда.
Inside, the S800 makes its priorities clear. Electrically operated rear doors open to a lounge of lacquered surfaces and leather. With a 3.37-meter wheelbase, rear passengers get more legroom than many first-class airline cabins. Heated, massaging armchairs in the back, a right-side seat that reclines nearly flat, fold-out tables, climate-controlled compartments for food and drinks, and a 40-inch ceiling-mounted screen for in-car movies are all standard. The roof features programmable LED constellations and shooting stars overhead.
The S800 comes with either two electric motors producing 530 CV or three motors with 863 CV, paired with a 97 kWh battery for up to 700 kilometers of range and charging speeds close to 400 kW. These specs are strong, though not as powerful as the Lucid Air or Porsche Taycan. The S800 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and tops out at 240 km/h, putting it in the upper-middle tier of electric performance sedans. There is also a version with a range extender—a four-cylinder generator—that increases range to over 1,300 kilometers, though some buyers may not want a combustion engine, even as a backup.
The S800’s main advantage is its software. Huawei’s autonomous driving system can keep the car in its lane, change lanes, handle intersections and roundabouts, and even make left turns across traffic with little driver input. In heavy city traffic, the driver can take their hands off the wheel while the car manages the situation. The S800’s sideways “crab walk” parking maneuver has already gone viral on Chinese social media.
По данным Reuters, Huawei и JAC ведут продвинутые переговоры с Maserati о совместной разработке и производстве автомобилей на технологической базе Huawei. Среди обсуждаемых вариантов — двойной брендинг: Maextro для Китая и Maserati для внешних рынков, а старт первого совместного автомобиля ориентировочно намечен на конец 2027 года.
For buyers used to the understated style of Mercedes or Maybach, the S800’s bold design—with its illuminated accents—might seem over the top. But the Chinese market has responded well, with 10,000 units delivered in less than six months. The demand for high-tech, comfortable sedans is clear, and the S800’s quick uptake points to a shift in the global luxury car market. Still, as several industry reports note, the S800’s sales should be seen as part of a larger trend: Chinese tech companies like Huawei are raising the bar and putting pressure on traditional luxury brands, even if official sales records are not confirmed.
European brands have long led the conversation on electric innovation, but recent real-world tests—such as the Kia EV5’s struggles in cold weather—show the challenges they face. Huawei’s focus on digital features and passenger comfort, rather than just raw power, makes the S800 a real option for a new generation of luxury buyers. Sector analysts now often cite the Maextro S800 as proof that China is moving from follower to trendsetter in the premium electric vehicle market.
It took Huawei and JAC five years to develop the Maextro S800, a timeline more typical of German brands than the fast pace of most Chinese launches. The result is a sedan that matches, and in some ways surpasses, its Western competitors in comfort, technology, and value. The Maextro S800 is not just a rival to the Mercedes Clase S—it sets a new standard for what a luxury sedan can be when software, design, and ambition come together. For now, the message from China is clear: German dominance in luxury cars is no longer a given, and the competition is real.
