Aito is a relatively new brand name in the automotive world under EV maker Seres Auto that was co-developed with tech giant Huawei. While the name is a bit unconventional, the automaker says it is an abbreviation for “Adding Intelligence to Auto”, aligned with their “intelligence redefining luxury” branding. The brand officially made its Philippine debut at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show with the M9, and also offers the M5 and M7 range-extended SUVs.

The Aito M9 Ultra is a range-extended flagship SUV that aims to deliver an “all-scenario” luxury experience, with intelligent functions whether you’re in the driver's seat or a limousine-like second-row passenger seat.

Styling of the M9 Ultra falls under the “Kunpeng Zhanyi” concept, designed and engineered by Seres in collaboration with Huawei’s HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) team as a futuristic and sleek flagship vehicle targeted at a very discerning clientele. The stylish body is underpinned by an aluminum chassis, with 80% of the body-in-white built from aluminum as well. It sits on air suspension, which gives it a height adjustment range of 80mm to suit different driving scenarios.

The eyes are the window to the soul; for the Aito M9, it seems this is the window to its tech. Up front, the smart projection headlights can project about a million pixels on the road, while the rear also comes with glowing smart "Starlight taillights" which you can customize to different themes as well.

To get in, the one-touch motorized doors open for you, and a motorized stepboard helps with ingress and egress. Once inside, you will be welcomed by its intelligent cockpit and luxury suite interior.

The HarmonyOS-powered infotainment system comes with three screens (a 12.3-inch instrumentation panel, a 15.6-inch central display, and a 16-inch passenger display) alongside a 75-inch full-color AR (augmented reality) heads-up display (HUD). It is also fitted with a 25-speaker hi-fi audio system. However, because it runs on a HarmonyOS platform, a dongle is required to connect to Apple CarPlay, while Android Auto connectivity is not readily available at all. This is a bit of a letdown in this day and age, especially when competitor vehicles offer much more seamless phone connectivity.

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The driver’s seat is remarkably plush and comes with a removable suede neck pillow, so you don’t feel too bad about your passenger prince or princess lounging away in the second row. The right-side passenger can even fold the front passenger seat forward to create an even more spacious, luxurious sanctuary experience. Furthermore, the door seals and windows provide excellent sound isolation from the stressful outside world.

I'd rather be a passenger in this land yacht that measures over 5.2 meters long, 2 meters wide, and 1.8 meters tall. The 3.1-meter-long wheelbase really gives it its smooth ride qualities.

Under the hood is a 1.5-liter turbo engine rated at 160 PS that feeds the 52 kWh battery pack, which can run up to 290 kilometers on a full electric charge. Aito claims the M9 Ultra REEV can achieve up to 1,474 kilometers of total range. The dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain is rated at 496 PS and is highly capable of propelling this nearly two-and-a-half-ton SUV, allowing for smooth and effortless maneuvers on the road.

The chassis and suspension feel as though they were tuned more toward comfort and safety rather than sharp driving dynamics. While there is a significant amount of power on tap, the steering and handling feel a bit more “floaty” than reassuring.

The M9 puts nearly everything you'd want for a truly comfortable time on the road. I just wish it were more "internationally acceptable".

The Aito M9 Ultra REEV retails for Php 6,357,000, looks distinct, and promises intelligent luxury and comfort for the seemingly hefty price tag. Is the Philippines ready for Chinese-badged luxury?

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