The 2026 AITO M9 has been spotted on Chinese streets without camouflage, confirming a revised design and the arrival of Huawei's most advanced LiDAR system to date.

Spy photos taken on April 6, 2026 show the updated large SUV in production-ready form, with new door handles and an 896-line sensor unit mounted on the roof.

AITO M9 front view spy photo (weibo)

Produced by Seres Group (SSE: 601127) in partnership with Huawei Technologies, the M9 has held the top sales position in China's CNY 500,000 and above SUV segment for 21 consecutive months.

Pre-orders for the 2026 model opened on March 4, 2026, at a starting price of 479,800 CNY (c. $69,700). A final launch date has not been confirmed.

The most significant upgrade is the 896-line dual optical path LiDAR, which Huawei describes as the world's first of its kind. The architecture integrates wide-angle and telephoto imaging into a single sensor, delivering four times the resolution of the previous-generation system.

AITO M9 side view spy photo (weibo)

Detection of objects as small as 14 cm is possible at long range. Recognition of low-reflectivity targets such as fallen tyres improves by 190%, and identification of irregular obstacles such as overturned traffic cones improves by 77%. Window hardness on the sensor has been increased by 25% and durability doubled.

Externally, the door handles have been updated to match the Maextro S800 — a sibling model from Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance — and the body has grown across every dimension.

The 2026 M9 measures 5,285 mm long, 2,026 mm wide, and 1,845 mm tall on a 3,125 mm wheelbase. That compares with the current 2025 model at 5,230 mm × 1,999 mm × 1,800 mm on a 3,110 mm wheelbase — increases of 55 mm in length, 27 mm in width, 45 mm in height, and 15 mm in wheelbase. Top speed has been raised to 220 km/h (137 mph), up from 200 km/h (124 mph) on the 2025 EREV variants.

AITO M9 rear view spy photo (weibo)

Two powertrain options carry over from the current generation. The EREV variant retains the 1.5-litre turbocharged range extender producing 118 kW (158 hp) alongside dual electric motors.

The pure-electric BEV pairs a 220 kW front motor with a 277 kW rear motor for a combined output of 497 kW (666 hp). Acceleration times for the 2026 model have not been confirmed; the 2025 M9 EREV manages 0–100 km/h in 5.1 seconds in standard Ultra trim.

The current 2025 M9 is offered across extended-range and pure electric variants. The EREV range starts at 469,800 CNY (c. $68,300) for the 290 km Max five-seat version and reaches 569,800 CNY (c. $82,800) for the 266 km Ultra four-seat configuration.

The BEV variants — offering 605 km (376 miles) of CLTC-rated range — span 549,800 CNY (c. $79,900) to 599,800 CNY (c. $87,200). Pricing for the 2026 facelift beyond the pre-order entry point has not been announced.

The M9 exceeded 280,000 cumulative deliveries as of March 3, 2026 — a milestone announced at Huawei's technology launch event by executive director Yu Chengdong. Monthly deliveries surpassed 9,000 units in December 2025, and the broader AITO lineup has now cumulatively delivered more than 1 million vehicles since its 2021 launch.

Whether the 2026 M9 arrives with a price premium to match its larger footprint and upgraded sensor suite will become clear closer to its launch.

Conversion rate: 1 USD = 6.88 CNY as of April 5, 2026