Huawei Ultra-Luxury EV Brand Maextro Launches With S800 Sedan

Chinese technology giant Huawei continues to expand its portfolio of car brands, with the latest – Maextro – aimed at the very finest of the established European marques.

First announced in 2024, Maextro is Huawei’s ultra-luxury EV brand, and its first model is a full-size sedan called the S800, which looks like a rival to the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Ghost, the latter of which starts at well over $350,000. This new Huawei costs nowhere near that figure and was previously shown during last year’s Maextro brand launch. It was presented to the public for the first time last week at the Shanghai Auto Show (Auto Shanghai 2025).

The Looks Are Far From The Only Element Inspired By European Luxury

The S800 measures close to 216 inches long, or four inches more than a Cadillac Escalade ESV, and rides on a generous wheelbase of almost 133 inches. Most of that length benefits occupants at the rear, where two individual seats with reclining and massage functions are located. They are separated by a well-appointed center console fitted with folding tables. This console contains a lockable storage cubby, hot and cold cupholders, a wireless charging area, and even a refrigerator for a bottle of bubbly to fill the pair of champagne flutes that come with the car.

The exterior design, while unique, appears to have taken some inspiration from rivals like the BMW 7 Series and Rolls-Royce Ghost. As for the interior, the style and layout are not unlike what you’ll find in the current Maybach lineup, right down to a Hyperscreen-style interface. A star-like headliner, a signature trait of modern Rolls-Royce cabins, also features.

Up To Three Motors And 852 Horsepower

Two powertrain options have been announced. The standard setup relies on three electric motors delivering a combined 852 horsepower, drawing from a 94.4-kWh battery. An alternative is an extended-range powertrain, or series plug-in hybrid setup, where two electric motors with a combined 523 hp are powered by a smaller 63.3-kWh battery, working together with a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine serving as a range extender.

Related

Huawei’s New Luxury SUV Is China’s Budget Mercedes-Maybach GLS

The Aito M9 has some innovative tech and plenty of space.

Rear-wheel steering enables the S800 to move in a diagonal motion, similar to the CrabWalk function of the GMC Hummer EV. Huawei also said that Level 3 automated driving technology will be present, although it has not provided details.

Unlike fellow Chinese tech company Xiaomi, which independently develops and manufactures EVs under its own brand, Huawei partners with established Chinese automakers. For Maextro, the partner is JAC Group. The two have pulled out all the stops, including constructing a new state-of-the-art plant in Hefei, in China’s Anhui Province, to build the S800 and future Maextro products. According to Huawei, the plant has more than 1,500 robots, enabling 100% automation in key processes such as body construction and painting. Artificial intelligence is also employed for quality control, the company said.

Pricing Is Sharp But Not Cheap

Chinese customers can already place a reservation for the S800, which is slated to begin deliveries later this year. Pricing hasn’t been finalized, but Huawei said to expect a starting figure of just over 1 million yuan (approximately $137,600), or roughly two-thirds of what you’d pay for a Maybach S680 in China. Given the steep tariffs the U.S. has placed on Chinese cars – especially EVs – the chances of the S800 making it to American shores are slim.

Related

Chinese Parts Could Sneak Into American Cars After All

The tariff puzzle is about to change once again.