HIMA September Deliveries Fall 29% as Sales Pressure Mounts

HIMA September Deliveries Decline for Fourth Straight Month

Huawei-led Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance reported 37,490 vehicle deliveries in September, marking its fourth consecutive month of year-over-year decline. HIMA September deliveries were down 29.15% from the same month a year earlier and 10.95% from August, according to figures released by the alliance. September also represented the third consecutive month in which deliveries declined on a month-to-month basis. Despite the weaker monthly performance, HIMA's cumulative deliveries for the first nine months of the year reached 367,229 vehicles, representing 5.27% growth from the same period a year earlier. However, that growth rate slowed significantly from the 11.42% increase recorded through the first eight months.

HIMA Maintains Overall Delivery Growth Through September

HIMA said cumulative deliveries across its vehicle lineup had surpassed 1.56 million vehicles, highlighting the scale the alliance has achieved since its formation. The September decline therefore contrasts with the broader year-to-date increase, showing that recent monthly performance has weakened even as cumulative deliveries continue to rise. The slowdown became more pronounced during the third quarter, with September's year-over-year contraction following declines in the preceding months. The combination of lower monthly deliveries and reduced year-to-date growth momentum indicates that HIMA is facing a more challenging sales environment despite maintaining substantial cumulative volume across its brands and vehicle portfolio.

Multiple New Models Arrived During September

The September delivery decline occurred despite a busy period of product activity across HIMA's portfolio. During the month, the alliance launched or opened pre-sales for the updated Luxeed R7, Stelato V8, Luxeed RX and updated Aito M8. These introductions expanded or refreshed several products while HIMA's overall monthly deliveries continued to weaken. The timing suggests that the new models had not yet translated into an immediate reversal of the alliance's recent delivery trend. The product launches nevertheless give HIMA additional vehicles with which to address market demand, while the performance of these models in subsequent months will provide a clearer indication of whether the refreshed lineup can improve sales momentum.

Huawei and Seres Revisit Aito Partnership Structure

The delivery decline also coincided with changes involving the partnership between Huawei and Seres around the Aito brand, which was HIMA's first brand and remains one of its largest contributors. On September 15, the companies announced that Aito would explore a new partnership model within HIMA, with Seres taking the lead while Huawei continued providing support. The changes cover product definition, product design, brand marketing, retail channels and service operations. Aito remains part of HIMA, and the companies said customer benefits and ongoing services would not be affected. HIMA's other brands, including Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro and Shangjie, remain under Huawei's existing full-process leadership model.

Aito M8 Pricing and Range Highlight Product Refresh

Aito opened pre-sales for the updated M8 SUV on September 30, with a starting price of 389,800 yuan, or approximately $57,880, which is 30,000 yuan higher than the previous version's starting list price. The updated vehicle continues to offer extended-range electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle variants, along with five-seat and six-seat configurations. The BEV version provides a CLTC range of up to 830 kilometers, while the EREV version offers a combined range of up to 1,435 kilometers. The M8 is a core Aito model, but its recent sales performance has weakened. Its cumulative deliveries had exceeded 180,000 vehicles as of August 6, while monthly sales had declined for several consecutive months.

Partnership Talks Could Evolve Further

Chinese media outlet Yicai reported that Huawei and Seres had recently entered another round of discussions regarding their Aito cooperation model. According to the report, the existing cooperation structure was unlikely to change fundamentally, with the companies potentially deepening their partnership rather than moving entirely toward a structure in which Seres leads and Huawei provides support. The reported discussions add another layer of uncertainty around the operating framework for Aito at a time when the brand is also working to refresh its product lineup. Any eventual adjustment could influence how product development, branding, retail operations and services are coordinated between the two companies.

Industry Impact & Outlook

HIMA's September decline highlights the pressure facing a major Chinese automotive alliance even as it continues expanding its cumulative vehicle base and introducing new models. The combination of weaker monthly deliveries, slowing year-to-date growth and softer Aito M8 sales makes the performance of the refreshed product lineup particularly important for the alliance's near-term momentum. The evolving Huawei-Seres arrangement could also affect how Aito responds to market conditions, although the other HIMA brands remain under Huawei's existing operating model. Future delivery figures will be important in determining whether the September weakness represents a temporary setback during a product transition or a broader challenge for HIMA's sales trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did HIMA deliveries decline in September?
HIMA's September deliveries declined despite several product launches and pre-sales activity across its portfolio during the month. The alliance delivered 37,490 vehicles, down 29.15% from a year earlier and 10.95% from August. The September result represented the fourth consecutive month of year-over-year decline and the third consecutive month of month-to-month decline. The weaker performance also coincided with changes being discussed around the Huawei-Seres partnership for Aito, one of HIMA's major brands. Meanwhile, Aito's M8, a core model, had experienced several consecutive months of declining sales before its updated version entered pre-sales.

What is the updated Aito M8's starting price and range?
The updated Aito M8 opened pre-sales on September 30 with a starting price of 389,800 yuan, approximately $57,880, which is 30,000 yuan higher than the previous version's starting list price. The refreshed SUV continues to offer both extended-range electric vehicle and battery electric vehicle variants, with five-seat and six-seat configurations. Its BEV version provides a CLTC range of up to 830 kilometers, while the EREV version offers a combined range of up to 1,435 kilometers. The model remains an important part of Aito's lineup as the brand works to address recent sales weakness.