Huawei’s first electric car, known as the Luxeed S7, has been introduced in China. The cars are manufactured by Huawei’s joint partner, Chery Auto, which also provides the electric vehicle (EV) platform.
The Luxeed S7 has a starting price of 249,800 yuan (equivalent to $35,200 US). It boasts a low energy consumption of 12.4 kWh per 100 km and supports rapid charging of 430 km (267 miles) in just 15 minutes, thanks to its 800 V architecture. The vehicle also includes Huawei’s ADS 2.0 self-driving package.
The Luxeed S7 boasts a maximum range of 855 km (531 miles). This gives the car about 31% more range than the Tesla Model S, Tesla’s longest-range car. The Model S has a maximum range of 652 km (405 miles).
The S7 boasts a longer range due to its impressive aerodynamics. The car’s drag coefficient of 0.203 Cd beats the Tesla Model S.
The S7 also beats the Tesla Model S in terms of charging speed. Huawei claims that the S7’s battery can provide a range of 215 km (134 miles) after just five minutes of charging. By comparison, the Tesla Model S can only gain 121 km (75 miles) of range in a five-minute charge.
According to CarNewsChina, the Luxeed S7 is available in four different trims: the Pro, Max, Max+, and Max RS. EV range varies from 550 km (342 miles) for the Pro trim to 855 km (531 miles) for the Max RS trim. Prices range from 249,800 yuan ($35,200) for the Pro trim to 349,800 yuan ($49,300) for the Max RS trim.
Therefore, even the high-end Max RS trim is over $20,000 cheaper than the base Tesla Model S.
Huawei x Chery Luxeed S7 pic.twitter.com/RTLGZWDRfV
— Jason (@Jas0nYu) November 11, 2023
The S7 is the first model to be developed under Huawei’s Smart Choice scheme, where Huawei acts as a 0.5-tier supplier and seller. Luxeed EVs will be available for purchase in Huawei’s flagship stores throughout China.
The S7 incorporates a range of Huawei technologies, both in terms of hardware and software. On the hardware side, the DriveOne powertrain integrates the motor control unit (MCU), motor, and reducer. The software aspect includes the high-level autonomous driving package ADS 2.0 and the HarmonyOS 4 cockpit system.
Furthermore, Huawei plans to establish more than 100,000 600 kW superchargers in China by 2024.
Pre-orders for the Luxeed S7 commenced on November 9 and garnered over 20,000 orders in less than three weeks.
Although the Luxeed S7 will only be available in China for the time being, the car could soon penetrate other markets due to its advanced technology and affordable price. Even tariffs may not be enough to stop the car from coming to the US.
Image Source: Dolubatarya