Weekly Highlights | MAEXTRO S800 cumulative deliveries reach 15,000 units

Gasgoo Munich- What moved the needle in the new energy vehicle market this week?

GAC Toyota launches the Bozhi 7 pure electric sedan

GAC Toyota kicked off pre-sales for its new flagship electric sedan, the Bozhi 7, on March 5. The model comes in five versions, with pre-sale pricing ranging from 156,800 to 209,800 yuan.

As joint venture brands struggle to find their footing in the EV sector, the Bozhi 7 aims to shatter the stereotype that their models lag in intelligence. It does this by deeply integrating localized core features like Huawei's HarmonySpace, Momenta's ADAS system, and dual-chamber air suspension.

Image source: GAC Toyota

Marking another key step in GAC Toyota's electrification pivot, the Bozhi 7 joins the previously hot-selling Bozhi 3X to form a "sedan plus SUV" product matrix. While the Bozhi 3X targets the 150,000-yuan compact SUV segment, the Bozhi 7 expands the battlefront into the 200,000-yuan mainstream electric sedan market as a mid-to-large flagship. It directly challenges models like the BYD Han and Xiaomi SU7, helping to mitigate the risk of relying on a single model.

Gasgoo Takeaway: Whether the Bozhi 7 can replicate the success of the Bozhi 3X depends not just on the product itself, but on GAC Toyota's broader capabilities in user operations, brand communication, and charging infrastructure.

The Xiaomi SU7 faces a new "shooting brake" rival

At a Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) technology event on March 4, SAIC brand unveiled its first fashion-tech coupe, the Z7, as the finale. Official images of the HIMA's first shooting brake, the Z7T, were also released. Both models are set to debut in late March, marking SAIC's charge into the mid-to-high-end new energy vehicle sector.

With SAIC currently grappling with sliding sales, hopes are pinned on the Z7. The market is now focused on whether the car's actual strength can deliver a tangible boost to the brand's performance.

The launch of the Z7 and Z7T represents a precise strategic play for young, high-end users. Both models share Huawei's full-stack intelligent technology and SAIC Motor's manufacturing craftsmanship, while their differentiated positioning complements each other to meet the personalized and diverse needs of younger consumers.

Since its inception, SAIC has quickly gained traction with mainstream models, becoming a key contributor to HIMA's sales volume. However, the brand still faces challenges, including a gap in the high-end segment and intensifying industry competition.

Gasgoo Takeaway: The Z7 opens a path for SAIC's growth and a breakthrough into the high-end market, but its actual impact remains constrained by multiple factors. Opportunity and challenge coexist.

MAEXTRO S800 deliveries hit 15,000 units nine months after launch

On March 4, HIMA announced that the MAEXTRO S800 has delivered 15,000 units in the nine months since its launch, holding the title of best-selling luxury car priced over 1 million yuan for five consecutive months.

Meanwhile, at the technology event, officials revealed that the S800 features the world's highest-resolution 896-line LiDAR for a production vehicle, pushing detection distances for small targets, low-reflectivity objects, and irregular obstacles to new heights. It can detect objects as short as 14 cm from a distance, with recognition range for low-reflectivity targets like fallen tires improving by 190%, and range for irregular obstacles like fallen cones increasing by 77%.

Image source: Screenshot from Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance's Weibo

Developed jointly by Huawei and JAC Motors, the MAEXTRO S800 officially launched on May 30, 2025. It debuted in four versions — Starlight Premium, Star Glory Premium, Starlight Executive, and Star Glory Executive — priced at 708,000 yuan, 788,000 yuan, 818,000 yuan, and 1.018 million yuan, respectively. The Starlight Premium and Starlight Executive trims offer both pure electric and extended-range powertrain options.

Gasgoo Takeaway: In the ultra-luxury market spanning 700,000 to over 1 million yuan, Chinese brands are no longer bystanders — they are becoming the rule-makers.

Xiaomi confirms Vision GT concept supercar will not enter production

On March 2, Xiaomi EV released the 212th episode of its "Ask Xiaomi EV" series, addressing questions about its participation in the Vision Gran Turismo (VGT) project and the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo concept car. The post clarified the concept's positioning, showcase plans, and production status.

Xiaomi EV explained that VGT stands for "Vision Gran Turismo," a global virtual concept car collaboration initiated by Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the Gran Turismo series. The project invites top automakers worldwide to design and build concept cars representing their ultimate dreams, free from the constraints of real-world technology or materials, focusing purely on the vision of future driving experiences.

Image source: Xiaomi EV

Xiaomi's involvement began at the GT World Series in London last year, when Yamauchi extended an invitation to collaborate on a Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo concept car. The invitation marked a milestone moment for Chinese automotive design stepping onto the global stage.

Addressing widespread speculation, Xiaomi EV confirmed that the Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo will not go into mass production.

Gasgoo Takeaway: The move aims to establish the virtual supercar as a technological totem, injecting performance DNA into the brand and elevating its image from "value for money" to "design leadership." It paves the way for Xiaomi's European expansion in 2027. Without selling a single unit, the brand is making a statement about Chinese automakers' ambition to define the rules.

DENZA officially enters the Philippine market

On March 2, BYD announced that its premium new energy vehicle brand, DENZA, has officially entered the Philippine market following a launch event in Manila.

The brand's first model in the Philippines is the all-new DENZA D9, a flagship luxury MPV. Its debut marks a significant step in DENZA's global expansion into Southeast Asia.

Image source: DENZA

For context, the DENZA D9 first hit the market in China in 2022. The new generation went on sale on August 29, 2025, offering four trim levels across the Supreme and Premium editions, with a starting price of 309,800 yuan.

Visually, the Supreme edition stands out with its two-tone body paint, exuding a more luxurious feel. It features 18-inch multi-spoke wheels and dual power-sliding doors on the sides, while the rear retains a full-width light bar for high recognition and road presence. Dimensions for the Supreme edition are 5,250 mm in length, 1,960 mm in width, and 1,900 mm in height, with a 3,110 mm wheelbase and a "2+2+3" seven-seat layout.

Gasgoo Takeaway: Chinese luxury EV brands are no longer content with merely "going global." Armed with core technology, they are now launching a direct assault on the premium Southeast Asian market, a territory long dominated by Japanese automakers.