In December 2025, a new energy vehicle was ushered into the exhibition hall of the "Made in China 14th Five-Year Plan Achievements Exhibition." Flanking it were engineering marvels known as "national treasures" such as the C919 large passenger aircraft, the Fujian aircraft carrier, and the Fuxing high-speed train. This vehicle is the AITO M9. It stands as the only new energy vehicle selected for this exhibition.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's new energy vehicle production and sales led the world for multiple consecutive years, giving rise to dozens of brands and hundreds of models. Ultimately, only the AITO M9 earned a place in the National Exhibition Hall, sharing the stage with domestically produced large aircraft and high-speed rail. A special report also framed it as a "national treasure," incorporating it into the array of the nation's core manufacturing achievements and positioning it as a formidable player alongside other national strategic assets.
The question is: why the AITO M9?
A vehicle, an era. Since its launch, the AITO M9 has achieved cumulative deliveries of 280,000 units. In the 500,000 yuan price segment—a territory historically dominated by German luxury brands (BBA)—the AITO M9 has secured the top sales position, breaking the foreign brands' monopoly on the luxury vehicle market.
Being displayed alongside the C919, the Fujian carrier, and the Fuxing trains prompts the question: what level of technological capability does this product represent in its field? Does it hold symbolic significance?
In the past, domestic vehicles in the 500,000-yuan luxury SUV segment were long-term also-ran competitors. Technology followed others' leads, pricing was set lower, and success relied on cost-performance. Those that couldn't sell faded into history. In fact, no domestic brand previously dared to set prices firmly in the 500,000-yuan bracket.
The AITO M9 is the first to achieve dominance in this price range purely through genuine product strength, relying on solid capabilities. Its selection for the 14th Five-Year Plan Achievements Exhibition serves as both a report card for the past five years and a signal of the direction for the next five. For China's new energy vehicles to ascend the global value chain, a truly competitive benchmark is needed. The AITO M9 is that benchmark.
"14th Five-Year Plan" concludes, "15th Five-Year Plan" begins. As we move into 2026, the "14th Five-Year Plan" period concludes and the "15th Five-Year Plan" period commences. The "14th Five-Year Plan" period for the new energy industry addressed scale: production and sales figures, charging networks, and supply chain completeness. Penetration rates surged from single digits to over 50%, marking an undeniable victory in the new energy campaign.
However, the strategy for the next phase differs from the past five years. Brand premium, global influence, and mastery of core technologies are each more challenging than achieving sales volume. Scale can be built with speed, but these other elements cannot be simply amassed. As the growth rate of new energy penetration slows, competition naturally shifts towards "buying better new energy vehicles." Pricing power, profit margins, and brand narrative are becoming the true moats.
At this pivotal moment, coinciding with the start of the "15th Five-Year Plan," the all-new generation AITO M9 has been born. If the first-generation AITO M9 answered the question "Can a domestic vehicle sell for 500,000 yuan?", the all-new generation seeks to answer: "In the next five years, can Chinese brands take the initiative in product definition?"
From a product capability perspective, the upgrades in the all-new generation AITO M9 are systematic. The vehicle incorporates over 140 technological innovations, with more than 40 being industry-firsts. It achieved over 11,000 firm orders within one hour of launch.
The AITO M9: The Answer Behind the "National Treasure." What is particularly commendable is that the AITO M9 can be both a "national treasure" and "user-centric." Zhang Xinghai, Chairman (Founder) of SERES Group, has stated: "Users are the root; SERES exists because of users." Zhang Xinghai personally delivers vehicles to users over a dozen times a year, traveling from Heilongjiang to Yunnan to discuss products and safety face-to-face with owners, then bringing their feedback back to the R&D teams. AITO also employs an industry-notable practice—inviting users into the factory to participate in final inspections. Zhang Xinghai's idea is simple: the starting point of trust is to go one step further for the user.
Premium positioning and intelligence are the AITO M9's fundamentals, but what truly sets it apart is SERES's willingness to invest earnest, meticulous effort into the user experience.
Looking back in five years, people will likely remember the AITO M9's position in the National Exhibition Hall, representing the moment Chinese new energy vehicles finally reached a height worthy of being recorded.