Chery's Luxeed drops Huawei tech from its overseas models

Key highlights:

• Luxeed export models will drop Huawei hardware and software
• LLounge arrives in Australia first, in mid-2027
• Luxeed will become Chery Group’s most premium Australian brand

Luxeed will remove Huawei hardware and software from vehicles sold outside China as it prepares to expand into international markets, including Australia. The move will separate its export models from Huawei, the Chinese technology company excluded from Australia’s 5G telecommunications network.

The Chery Group’s luxury brand is a joint venture between Chery and Huawei under the Harmony Intelligence Mobility Alliance (HIMA) in China. However, Luxeed says its overseas vehicles will use different technology and powertrain components.

Luxeed distances export models from Huawei

Speaking to Drive Australia at Luxeed’s recent global launch in China, CEO Shawn Xu confirmed that international models would no longer use Huawei technology.

“We’re not related to Huawei, for international markets,” Xu said.

He also confirmed that Luxeed would change both hardware and software components for vehicles destined for overseas markets. The brand’s two current models, the RX and V9, use Huawei’s 800V electric technology, and their powertrains feature DriveOne motors and a battery pack called Giant Whale.

For export markets, Luxeed will rename the RX as the Stormax and the V9 as the LLounge, which will also receive a redesigned exterior. The changes mean overseas versions will have different fully electric and range-extender powertrains. 

These components are likely to come from within the Chery Group, although Luxeed has yet to confirm the details.

Stormax power and acceleration figures change

Luxeed has already released different power and performance figures for the export-bound Stormax compared with the Chinese-market RX.

Although the Stormax gains 23kW, its claimed 0–100km/h acceleration time increases by 0.3 seconds. Removing Huawei technology will also affect the vehicles’ driver-assistance capabilities, as Huawei has a strong reputation in China for its semi-autonomous driving technology, so Luxeed’s replacement systems will be an important part of the export models.

Also read: Chery confirms three iCaur SUV variants for Australia from 2027

Luxeed Australia launch planned for 2027

Luxeed plans to enter Australia in the middle of 2027, starting with the LLounge luxury people mover.

The Australian-bound LLounge will use a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol range-extender (REEV) powertrain. The fully electric Stormax performance SUV will arrive afterwards.

The brand has also announced plans to develop four additional global SUVs, provisionally named 3, 5, 7, which are intended for overseas markets, but Luxeed has not confirmed whether they will come to Australia. The company will reveal pricing and further specifications closer to the launch.

The Chery Group plans to operate nine distinct brands in Australia by the end of 2027, including Luxeed, and these brands will share corporate distribution networks, parts logistics and dealership space. Luxeed will sit at the top of the group’s local brand hierarchy as Chery’s most expensive and premium offering in Australia.

Huawei vehicles are not banned in Australia

Huawei was excluded from Australia’s 5G telecommunications network by the federal government in 2018, and it was also blocked from the National Broadband Network (NBN). However, Australia does not have specific bans or restrictions on vehicles fitted with Huawei components.

Luxeed’s decision to remove Huawei technology from export models is therefore part of its international product strategy, rather than a response to a specific Australian vehicle restriction.