Image Source: Weibo

The AITO G9 launch event made waves in the automotive circle, thanks to two viral moments. At 2:30 PM on August 20th, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility AITO G9 new product launch officially commenced. On stage, spokesperson Shen Teng had a slip of the tongue, mistakenly referring to himself as the spokesperson for 'Harmony Intelligent Realm,' which immediately sparked a flurry of activity in the live chat;

Meanwhile, off stage, Yu Chengdong took a break to post on Weibo, admitting that he was nervous during his on-site explanation and didn't deliver it as well as he hoped. He actively reviewed and addressed the brand's core technology shortcomings. The contrast between these humorous and serious moments made this new car launch event highly engaging.

Image Source: Yu Chengdong's Weibo

Pre-launch Teasers: Shen Teng Steps Up as Spokesperson, Netizens Tease Throughout the Build-up

The humorous tone for this launch event was set as early as August 19th. Yu Chengdong officially announced a major update: Shen Teng was officially upgraded as the brand spokesperson for AITO, sharing the stage with long-time spokesperson Yang Mi to promote the new AITO G9. As soon as the news broke, car enthusiasts across the internet started teasing, with many urging Shen Teng: 'Memorize your script in advance, don't improvise, or you'll embarrass Yu again!'

Many still vividly remember when Shen Teng, serving as an AITO experience officer, posed a soul-searching question: 'Why did AITO have the car before the logo?'

AITO's Star-shaped Logo 'Cosmic Star' Image Source: Weibo

This unexpected question left Yu Chengdong visibly embarrassed. He later explained that due to domestic regulations, independent automotive brands must have their own exclusive logos, and the lengthy trademark registration approval process resulted in the rare phenomenon of the 'car coming first, logo later' in the industry. This genuine and relaxed interaction remains a popular viral moment on short-video platforms.

Netizens' opinions were polarized: some eagerly awaited Shen Teng to create another viral moment, while others worried that improvisation might overshadow the product's highlights. More viewers believed that compared to monotonous scripted presentations, this genuine interaction significantly enhanced the launch event's communication effectiveness.

It is reported that the cooperation between Shen Teng, Yang Mi, and AITO has been steadily evolving: in 2024, Yang Mi became the first 001 owner of the AITO S9, and in April 2025, she was upgraded to a brand spokesperson; Shen Teng stepped up from experience officer to brand ambassador, and finally to an official spokesperson. The brand even launched an OTA update featuring Yang Mi's exclusive in-car voice, deeply integrating celebrity IP into the driving experience.

Image Source: Weibo

Celebrity endorsements have become a common marketing strategy for automotive companies, and Harmony Intelligent Mobility has also formed a clear matrix: Xiao Zhan endorses Shangjie, while Shen Teng and Yang Mi partner for AITO. Netizens commented wisely: Celebrities are just traffic amplifiers; the vehicle's capabilities are the core competitiveness. Traffic can only bring short-term exposure, while products, technology, and services are the foundation of a brand's success.

Pricing Announced: Starting at RMB 429,800, Completing Harmony Intelligent Mobility's Product Portfolio

The core highlight of the launch event was announced: the all-new luxury rugged SUV, AITO G9, officially hit the market, priced between RMB 429,800 and RMB 549,800. The five-seater version starts at RMB 429,800, the six-seater at RMB 439,800, offering both pure electric and extended-range dual power options, as well as five-seater and six-seater cabin choices. After the price announcement, the internet buzzed with discussion: supporters argued that with features like an 800V platform, air suspension, and factory-installed camping packages, the pricing was highly competitive; skeptics noted that the RMB 430,000 segment is crowded with competitors, and the new car's ability to stand out remains to be seen in the market.

Image Source: Weibo

During the event, Yu Chengdong announced a key milestone: Harmony Intelligent Mobility's cumulative deliveries across all models have surpassed 1.5 million units in just 53 months, setting the fastest delivery record for a new Chinese automotive brand. Existing car owners praised the brand's strength, while rational netizens pointed out that while the total delivery figure is impressive, the brand still needs to demonstrate consistent delivery performance for individual models.

Yu Chengdong stated that Harmony Intelligent Mobility has built a complete R&D, quality, and service system by relying on Huawei's full-process leadership, full-stack technological empowerment, and full lifecycle management. The launch of the AITO G9 officially fills the brand's gap in the large luxury rugged SUV segment, forming a 'Dual 9 Flagship Matrix' with the AITO M9: the M9 targets urban families for both business and leisure, while the G9 focuses on outdoor exploration for elite markets, precisely filling the market gap for factory-installed all-capable luxury off-road SUVs.

Image Source: Weibo

In terms of appearance, the AITO G9 offers five exterior colors and four interior options, allowing for free color combinations, breaking the stereotype of traditional rugged SUVs being outdated and bulky. The new car is equipped with exclusive hexagram wheels, with options for multiple quiet tires and AT all-terrain tires. The vehicle's drag coefficient is as low as 0.279, balancing presence and energy efficiency.

With dimensions of 5206×2050×1897mm (extendable to 5377mm with storage packages) and a wheelbase of 3160mm, it is a standard full-size flagship SUV. Thanks to ±12-degree rear-wheel steering, the vehicle's minimum turning radius is just 5.2 meters, leading netizens to joke: 'A five-meter-plus large vehicle turns as flexibly as a compact car, making urban commuting effortless.' Additionally, the car features dimmable glass + physical sunshades, ensuring privacy for the second row, catering to both family and business scenarios.

Native All-Terrain Architecture: Eliminating Aftermarket Modifications, Balancing Off-Road and Family Use

The AITO G9's core differentiating advantage lies in its native all-terrain outdoor architecture. Yu Chengdong previously pointed out industry pain points: most SUVs on the market have camping and off-road capabilities added later, resulting in high costs, potential rattles, leaks, and safety hazards—essentially 'half-finished modifications.' The AITO G9, however, incorporates all-scenario outdoor travel into its native design from the R&D stage.

Image Source: Weibo

At the hardware level, the new car debuts Huawei's All-Terrain Turing Platform and Intelligent All-Terrain System, globally premiering an 800V fully active disconnectable stabilizer bar, adaptive differential locks, paired with dual-chamber air suspension and continuously variable damping shock absorbers. It can automatically identify sand, mud, and slippery surfaces, intelligently adapting chassis parameters.

Addressing the controversial 'unibody construction' debate, Yu Chengdong provided a professional explanation: the new car's unibody design is not a cost-cutting measure. Traditional non-unibody frames are heavy, increase energy consumption, and reduce battery layout space, making them incompatible with 800V high-voltage platforms. This design, comparable to the Land Rover Defender, fully covers daily off-road and light adventure scenarios, perfectly balancing urban comfort and outdoor capability. Netizens remain divided: urban users appreciate its energy efficiency and comfort, while hardcore off-road enthusiasts argue that heavy-duty off-roading still requires non-unibody construction.

The vehicle's off-road parameters are impressive, with a maximum ground clearance of 285mm, wading depth of 800mm, and Huawei ADS road preview technology ensuring smooth shock absorption on rough roads and stability at high speeds. Factory-installed features include an electric roof tent, through-roof travel space, and a side-opening tailgate kitchen, eliminating the need for aftermarket modifications. Camping enthusiasts rave: 'Factory-installed full outdoor configuration, worry-free and quality-assured, putting an end to aftermarket chaos.'

Powered by all-wheel drive and standard with Huawei's 800V Gigawhale battery platform: the pure electric version features a 120kWh battery with a CLTC range of 728km; the extended-range version offers 56kWh/75kWh batteries, with a pure electric range of up to 405km and a combined range of up to 1366km, eliminating range anxiety. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in under 4 seconds, leading netizens to joke: 'This full-size behemoth accelerates fiercely, leaving competitors in the dust at traffic lights.'

Currently, the premium boxy SUV segment is fiercely competitive, with rivals like Xiaomi Pengcheng entering the fray. Unlike competitors like NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng, which add outdoor capabilities to urban SUVs, the AITO G9 stands out with its native off-road architecture and all-around capabilities. However, industry experts cautiously note that while the paper specifications are impressive, long-term reliability and chassis tuning still require market validation.

Dual Smart Strengths: L3 Native Architecture + Universal Sky-Earth Network Communication

The AITO G9's another major strength lies in its smart capabilities, being the first luxury rugged SUV equipped with an L3-level autonomous driving native architecture. The vehicle is equipped with 38 high-precision sensors, a flagship computing platform, and eight full-link redundancy systems, enabling fully activatable assisted driving across all scenarios. Officials revealed that L3 autonomous driving experience will be available in a few months. Netizens have mixed reactions: some are optimistic about the combination of a rugged SUV and advanced intelligent driving, while others await regulatory approval and real-world testing.

Image Source: Weibo

In terms of communication, the new car features Huawei's Galaxy Communication 3.0 universal sky-earth networking system, supporting dual-network dual-connectivity, satellite calls, and industry-first vehicle-to-vehicle interconnection. It remains online in weak or wilderness areas with no signal, solving the pain point of losing connectivity during outdoor adventures, deeply appealing to off-road enthusiasts.

Yu Chengdong's Post-Event Review: Revealing Harmony Intelligent Mobility's Core Technological Strengths

Midway through the launch event, Yu Chengdong unexpectedly posted a self-review on Weibo, admitting that his on-site explanation was not perfect, while also revealing the brand's core competitiveness: Harmony Intelligent Mobility's five model lines possess six unique core technologies + one core capability, superimposed with Huawei's full suite of intelligent automotive solutions.

This candid review sparked a wave of internet teasing, with netizens comforting him: 'Yu delivered without a teleprompter, far exceeding industry averages,' while others joked: 'Next time, use a teleprompter to avoid late-night homework.'

Notably, Huawei's ADS Qiankun intelligent driving was not listed among the unique technologies because it is open to external partners, compatible with Huawei Hi mode, SAIC Audi, and other collaborative models, not exclusive to Harmony Intelligent Mobility. This curated list of core technologies is a key consideration for many car buyers, with netizens hoping these hardcore technologies will be effectively implemented in daily driving scenarios. Meanwhile, many car owners call for the industry to abandon malicious smear campaigns and return to healthy product competition.

In Conclusion

Unlike purely hardcore off-road or purely urban family vehicles, the AITO G9 focuses on an all-scenario, all-capable experience, integrating luxury business texture, spacious interiors, L3 native intelligent driving, 800V high-voltage platforms, and native outdoor off-road capabilities, perfectly suited for urban commuting, family outings, and wilderness adventures.

Backed by Harmony Intelligent Mobility's milestone of 1.5 million deliveries, the AITO G9 officially enters the RMB 400,000+ premium rugged SUV segment. Shen Teng's slip of the tongue brought viral attention, while Yu Chengdong's earnest review showcased the brand's technological focus. While traffic may fade, only genuine product strength and technological prowess can sustain a model's position in a fiercely competitive market.

Interactive Topic: Do you recognize Harmony Intelligent Mobility's 6+1 core technological strength? Are you optimistic about the AITO G9's market prospects? Welcome to leave your comments and engage in discussion!

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