Gasgoo Munich- On April 26, JAC Group and Huawei Device signed a Joint Innovation Cooperation Agreement in Beijing. This marked a deepening of their strategic partnership. Under the agreement, the two will focus on joint technology development, supply chain integration, and brand co-creation. These efforts aim to accelerate MAEXTRO's rise as a leader in China's ultra-luxury smart vehicle market.
The partnership began with their first acquaintance in 2019. In 2023, they decided to adopt the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) model. Later, the MAEXTRO S800 reshaped the million-yuan luxury segment with over 16,000 cumulative deliveries. With this latest deal, the partnership is now entering a "2.0 era." What trajectory has the JAC-Huawei partnership actually followed?
From Cooperation to Symbiosis
JAC Group's collaboration with Huawei began in December 2019. They signed a comprehensive framework agreement focused initially on integrating intelligent technologies and supplying components. Over the next four years, continuous exploration in smart vehicle solutions laid the groundwork for a deeper bond.
The turning point arrived in December 2023. The two signed a Smart New Energy Vehicle Cooperation Agreement. They officially announced plans to build ultra-luxury smart EVs under the HIMA model, giving birth to the MAEXTRO brand. This represents the deepest level of engagement among Huawei's three partnership models. Huawei has moved from a "supplier" role to a "co-creator." The company now deeply involves itself in product definition, design, R&D, and channel sales.
With this, JAC Group became the fourth pillar in HIMA's "Four Realms" strategy, joining Seres (AITO), Chery (LUXEED), and BAIC (STELATO).
Image Source: Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance
The pace of collaboration subsequently accelerated. The MAEXTRO S800 debuted in November 2024 and officially launched on May 30, 2025, priced from 708,000 yuan. Within just 19 days, firm orders surpassed 5,000 units. Then on June 17, 2025, the pair signed a broader strategic agreement in Hefei. This expanded cooperation from model development to smart vehicle solutions, enterprise digitalization, and green transition. It marked a shift from a "project-oriented" approach to "systemic collaboration."
The April 26 Joint Innovation Cooperation Agreement represents a further upgrade of their existing partnership. It elevates joint innovation from the product level to technical architecture and the supply chain ecosystem.
Viewed through the lens of cooperation models, JAC and Huawei's relationship has ascended through three tiers. The first tier involved integrating Huawei technology. This meant embedding modular products like smart cockpits and vehicle control systems into early models.
The second tier is joint vehicle development under the HIMA model. Huawei dives deep into product definition and R&D, while JAC handles manufacturing and quality control. Together, they assembled a specialized R&D team of over 5,000 people with global suppliers. The MAEXTRO S800 stands as the crowning achievement of this phase.
The third tier was established by this latest signing. It is a "tri-driven" model of joint research, supply chain integration, and brand co-creation. This transcends the boundaries of a single model. The partners aim to move toward collaborative R&D platforms and the joint creation of industry standards.
JAC's own transformation has accelerated alongside this partnership. By systematically adopting Huawei's advanced management processes—IPD, ISC, and LTC—JAC has achieved systemic improvements. These improvements cover R&D efficiency, quality management, and organizational processes. The MAEXTRO project is positioned as JAC's "top priority." It has attracted investment far exceeding 10 billion yuan.
Put simply, the JAC-Huawei partnership is not a simple OEM arrangement, but a "symbiotic" fusion of traditional vehicle manufacturing experience and leading technological capabilities.
MAEXTRO Delivers Tangible Results
MAEXTRO serves as the most direct vessel for the JAC-Huawei collaboration, and the market performance of its first product, the S800, offers a critical test of the partnership's success.
By the end of March 2026, cumulative deliveries of the MAEXTRO S800 had surpassed 16,000 units. Insurance registration data shows that between September 2025 and January 2026, the S800 recorded 13,092 units in registrations. This exceeded the combined total of the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class over the same period. Monthly deliveries broke the 10,000-unit mark in December 2025 alone. This set a new speed record for the million-yuan luxury segment.
During a 10-month market ramp-up, the S800 went from a non-entity to a challenger of the traditional German luxury establishment. It achieved this with a single model. The S800 introduced the first variable capable of rewriting the competitive landscape of the million-yuan sedan market.
In terms of product capability, the S800 embodies the integration of Huawei's intelligent technology system into an ultra-luxury vehicle. Built on the Tuling Longxing platform, it is the first to feature HUAWEI ADS 4. It is equipped with 36 vehicle sensors. These include four LiDAR units, three distributed 4D millimeter-wave radars, and 11 8-megapixel cameras.
Image Source: JAC
In the cockpit domain, it debuts the Harmony ALPS 2.0 system and Huawei Star River communication technology. Mechanically, it features an 800V high-voltage platform. The extended-range version offers a comprehensive range of 1,333 kilometers. Meanwhile, rear-wheel steering technology reduces the turning radius to just 5.05 meters. These configurations project Huawei's intelligent capabilities. They also reflect the priority implementation of the HIMA alliance's "unified and platform-based" technology strategy in high-end models.
The ripple effects of the MAEXTRO brand have extended beyond a single product. Richard Yu revealed that the MAEXTRO S800 has a Net Promoter Score exceeding 85 points. Achieving such a metric in the ultra-high price bracket indicates that its "tech luxury" positioning has won substantive market recognition. Meanwhile, traditional ultra-luxury brands like Porsche and Maybach have adjusted their market strategies. They have done so in response to the S800, with some resorting to price cuts.
On the supply chain front, the MAEXTRO project has propelled Chinese suppliers to break technical barriers in the ultra-luxury sector. This achieved a leap in industrial status from "followers" to "standard setters."
Looking ahead, Richard Yu disclosed during a livestream at the Beijing Auto Show that MAEXTRO will launch a high-end bespoke model. Called the S800 Ultimate, it is priced between 1.5 million and 2 million yuan. It is expected to debut in late June 2026. JAC also indicated that the MAEXTRO brand plans to introduce additional models. These will focus on both pure electric and extended-range powertrains to continuously expand its product matrix.
From a broader industry perspective, MAEXTRO does not stand alone. In December 2025, the leaders of the five HIMA partner companies appeared on stage together. These companies are AITO, LUXEED, STELATO, MAEXTRO, and SAIC. They announced a smart vehicle ecosystem alliance. This initiative promotes comprehensive systemic cooperation in standardized technical solutions, shared after-sales networks, and joint charging infrastructure.
As the highest-priced flagship brand within the "Five Realms," MAEXTRO serves as a testing ground for HIMA's technological breakthroughs. It also bears the responsibility of establishing a brand benchmark. This is for the ecosystem alliance in the high-end market.
