Huawei Maextro S800 looks like someone dropped a Maybach, A

Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei’s automotive project, said their flagship sedan is larger than 99.99% of cars in China

Over the past few decades, Chinese products have made great strides in design, technology, quality and luxury. So much so that China’s newest brand, Maextro, thinks it can rival Europe’s most luxurious brands such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Maybach. Its first model, the S800, promised similar functionality at a lower price.

Far from being a plucky upstart (or heaven forbid, some kind of weird reboot of the Austin maestro), the newly minted Maextro brand is a joint venture between tech giant Huawei and Chinese automaker JAC Motors. It is also the fourth and most ambitious member of Huawei’s HIMA project, ranking above the Stelato (Huawei/BAIC), Luxeed (Huawei/Chery) and AITO (Huawei/Seres) collaborations.

More: Huawei CEO says new ultra-premium EV brand will surpass Maybach and Rolls-Royce

As the first model of the emerging brand, the Maextro S800 is unveiled ahead of its launch in spring 2025. The electric sedan sticks to the tried-and-true luxury formula: a long hood, a bowing roofline that flows smoothly to the rear, and a stretched wheelbase like it has something to prove.

Derived shape

While the Chinese auto industry has made some design strides over the years, the Maextro S800 falls into a familiar trap – derivative styling. Instead of creating a bold new image, it borrowed heavily (and not always successfully) from European luxury strategies.

The disc wheels are unmistakably Rolls-Royce inspired, the chrome lower bumper air intake feels like a Bentley afterthought, and the two-tone exterior treatment screams Maybach. As for the rear, its slightly curved profile is uncomfortably reminiscent of the Porsche Panamera. To its credit, the S800 does have some original touches, including unique star-shaped door handles and intricately designed LED lighting, but these bells and whistles aren’t enough to shake up its patchwork aesthetic.

Obviously, size matters

Huawei Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu (also known as Yu Chengdong) couldn’t help but boast that the Maextro S800 is larger than 99.99% of the cars on China’s roads. With a length of 5,480 mm (215.7 inches), a width of 2,000 mm (78.7 inches), a height of 1,536 mm (60.5 inches), and a wheelbase of 3,370 mm (132.7 inches), the S800 is definitely not small.

This footprint is very similar to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, which is the benchmark for Chinese models. However, it’s 65 mm (2.6 inches) lower than a Rolls-Royce Ghost, and if you’re aiming for Phantom EWB-level grandeur, you’ll need an extra 502 mm (19.8 inches) to achieve that.

a glimpse inside

The interior, shown via a teaser, hints at luxury, but also leaves a lot to the imagination. The so-called “starry sky” roof, borrowed from Rolls-Royce’s best-selling models, creates a starry sky atmosphere, while high-quality interior materials are designed to enhance the cabin’s appeal.

The back seat is available in a four-seat layout for those who prefer having a driver rather than driving themselves. Since this is a Huawei-backed business, you can expect the latest technology, including AI assistance systems and Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

The Maextro S800 is built on Huawei’s Turing smart chassis and is tight-lipped about its all-electric powertrain specifications. These details are expected to be announced when it becomes available in spring 2025.

Pricing

However, one thing is already clear: this electric car is priced competitively. Pre-orders are now open in China with a deposit of 20,000 yen ($2,800), and final pricing is expected to be between 1-1.5 million yen ($137,800-206,700). This puts the S800 into direct competition with heavyweights such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7 in the luxury electric sedan segment.

Photos: Maextro, Chu Xiaomin, Wild 11 / Weibo