Key highlights:
- Aito plans to bring 4 large SUVs to Australia by late 2027
- The Aito 6, 7, 8 and 9 SUVs target premium luxury buyers
- The flagship Aito 9 is a rebadged version of China’s M9
Chinese luxury vehicle brand Aito has confirmed key details about entering Australia by the end of 2027, with a range of large SUVs aimed at established premium marques such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
The brand, which has links to technology giant Huawei, says it sits above Chinese rivals Zeekr and Denza, and its proposed Australian line-up includes four SUVs measuring around 5.0 to 5.4 metres long, with the flagship Aito 9 expected to lead the range.
Aito confirms Australian expansion plans
Aito is owned by Chinese automaker Seres and has ties to Huawei, the communications and technology giant and its name reportedly stands for “Adding Intelligence to Auto”.
Although the brand is unfamiliar to most Australians, Aito has already established a presence in China, and it sold more vehicles than Zeekr in August 2026, while its flagship M9 SUV is claimed to lead its price and size categories.
Seres Group Vice President Clifford Kang confirmed the Australian plans to Drive Australia at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, pointing to a local launch by the end of 2027.
“Yeah, we are working on it [an Australian entry],” he said. “I think it could be also next year, later next year.”
Four Aito SUVs planned for Australia
Kang identified the Aito 6, 7, 8 and 9 as the models earmarked for Australia, and they are all large SUVs measuring approximately 5.0 to 5.4 metres long.
The Aito 6 will be a five-seater, while the larger models offer the option of three-row, six-seat layouts. In China, these vehicles are sold as the M6, M7, M8 and M9, but the brand is expected to drop the “M” prefix for overseas markets to avoid a trademark clash with BMW and BYD.
| Planned Australian model | Seating configuration |
|---|---|
| Aito 6 | Five seats |
| Aito 7 | Up to six seats, with three rows |
| Aito 8 | Up to six seats, with three rows |
| Aito 9 | Up to six seats, with three rows |
Aito also sells the smaller M5 in China, where it competes with the Zeekr 7X and Tesla Model Y, but Kang did not identify that older model for Australian export.
Aito intends to position itself above Chinese luxury brands such as Zeekr and Denza, and target established European premium manufacturers.
“We are actually looking at Mercedes-Benz, BMW, these kinds of brands,” Kang said.
The four planned SUVs would give Aito a broader local range than Zeekr’s two models, the 8X and 9X.
Australian pricing has yet to be announced, but the proposed positioning suggests the range could start at around $90,000 to $100,000 for the smallest model and approach $150,000 for the flagship. Those figures are estimates based on the intended market positioning, not confirmed prices.
Also read: BYD Atto 8 electric SUV debuts globally at Paris Motor Show
Battery-electric and range-extender powertrains
Aito’s Chinese line-up uses different powertrain configurations depending on the model.
The M6 is available as either a battery-electric vehicle or a range-extender EV. The range-extender version uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge two electric motors, supported by either a 36kWh or 52kWh battery and the M6 seats five only.
The larger M7, M8 and M9 offer three-row, six-seat layouts but are available exclusively with range-extender powertrains in China.
Australian powertrain specifications have not been confirmed, so the Chinese-market configurations should not be treated as final local specifications.
Aito joins Australia’s growing list of Chinese brands
Aito’s planned arrival will push the number of vehicle brands selling, or preparing to sell, cars in Australia beyond 65.
It joins other newer or incoming brands, including Avatr, Hongqi and Wuling, that are targeting Australian buyers and several more brands are expected to arrive over the next 18 months, including Forthing, Lepas, iCaur, Jetour, Freelander, JMC, 212, and Firefly.
The list of recent arrivals is already substantial – Geely, GAC, Omoda, Jaecoo, JAC, Denza, XPeng, Zeekr, Leapmotor, Deepal, Farizon and Foton have all launched in Australia within the past two and a half years.
This influx of Chinese brands is also influencing car buyers, as in September 2026, China cemented its position as Australia’s number one source of new vehicles for the eighth consecutive month, breaking records by capturing a whopping 38.9% market share, according to vehicle sales data by FCAI and EVC.
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