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On the afternoon of September 15, Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle officially issued the 'Statement on AITO's Cooperation Model by Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle', responding to the evolving cooperation dynamics between Huawei and Seres. The statement confirmed that AITO remains an integral part of the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem. However, effective immediately, Seres will assume leadership in five core areas: product definition, product design, brand marketing, channel retail, and service systems. Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) will continue its involvement through a 'supportive participation' approach, with no impact on existing user rights or subsequent services.

Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle Issues Official Statement on Cooperation Changes
On the afternoon of September 15, Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle released the 'Statement on AITO's Cooperation Model by Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle' through official channels, formally addressing the changes in the cooperation model between Huawei and Seres. The timing of this announcement aligned with heightened market discussions regarding the future trajectory of their partnership. Previously, market attention had centered not only on whether the AITO brand would remain within the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem but also on how roles in specific business areas would be redefined. The statement provided a relatively concise explanation, outlining four key aspects: brand affiliation, cooperation model, user rights, and adjustment boundaries. It first clarified the issue of brand affiliation, stating, 'AITO remains a member of the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle family.' This phrasing directly countered external speculation about AITO's potential departure from the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem. Prior to the statement's release, discussions about the Huawei-Seres relationship frequently revolved around the future of the AITO brand. By affirming AITO's continued inclusion in the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem, the statement made it clear that the adjustment represented an internal shift in the cooperation model rather than a brand withdrawal.

After clarifying brand affiliation, the statement introduced the concept of a 'new cooperation model.' It stated, 'From today onward, AITO will explore a new cooperation model within the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle framework.' This wording conveyed two critical pieces of information: first, the timeframe 'from today onward' indicated that the adjustment was not a future plan but would take effect immediately upon the statement's release; second, the phrase 'within the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle framework' specified that the change occurred within the existing cooperation structure without altering the overall framework of Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle.

Five Core Areas to Be Led by Seres
The most substantive aspect of this adjustment lies in the reallocation of specific business responsibilities. The statement listed five areas—product definition, product design, brand marketing, channel retail, and service systems—all of which will now be led by Seres. These five areas essentially encompass the entire lifecycle of an automotive product, from initial concept and design to market promotion, retail sales, and after-sales service.

In terms of product definition and product design—the two front-end areas—the shift in leadership means Seres will have greater authority over what AITO models will offer and how they will be designed. Product definition typically involves foundational decisions such as model positioning, target demographics, feature sets, and pricing ranges. Product design further encompasses specific execution aspects like exterior styling, interior design, and functional configurations. The inclusion of these two areas in Seres's purview represents one of the most critical changes in this adjustment.

Brand marketing and channel retail pertain to how products reach consumers. Brand marketing includes brand communication strategies, market promotion activities, and advertising placements. Channel retail involves the operation of retail stores, expansion of sales networks, and conversion of online and offline sales. Previously, the channel and brand marketing aspects within the Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem had been seen as one of the hallmarks of Huawei's deep involvement. Now, with these two areas under Seres's leadership, AITO's market operations will undergo systemic changes.

The service system covers after-sales aspects such as delivery, maintenance, repairs, and customer support. By including the service system in Seres's domain, the statement indicated that this adjustment extends beyond product development and sales to encompass the entire user experience chain. For an automaker, control over the service system directly impacts user satisfaction and brand reputation, making this adjustment equally substantive.

Huawei CBG Maintains Presence Through 'Supportive Participation'
In contrast to Seres's 'leadership' role, Huawei CBG's position after this adjustment is defined as 'supportive participation.' The statement used the phrase 'Huawei CBG participates in a supportive capacity.' On the surface, this suggests that Huawei CBG has not completely withdrawn from its cooperation with AITO but has shifted from deep involvement to a more supportive role.

In the automotive industry's business context, 'supportive participation' typically refers to technology output, intelligent solution support, and ecological resource collaboration. However, the statement did not elaborate further on the specific content, scope, or depth of this 'support.' Therefore, it remains unclear precisely which business areas Huawei CBG will continue to support for AITO based on the information released on the day of the statement. What is certain is that the statement clearly distinguishes Huawei CBG's role from Seres's 'leadership' position, indicating a change in their hierarchical relationship.

It is worth noting that the statement did not address equity-related matters. Whether there are adjustments to the capital relationship between Huawei and Seres was not mentioned at all. This announcement focused solely on the allocation of responsibilities within the business model, rather than changes in corporate governance or equity structure. Thus, this adjustment is better described as an operational-level change rather than a restructuring of corporate ownership.

User Rights and Subsequent Service Commitments Remain Unchanged
For existing AITO users, the statement's core commitment is that all existing user rights and subsequent services will remain unaffected. This encompasses two layers of meaning. The first layer pertains to 'existing rights,' meaning the various rights and promises users received at the time of purchase—including but not limited to warranty policies, maintenance services, membership benefits, and points systems—will not be reduced or canceled due to changes in the cooperation model. The second layer relates to 'subsequent services,' meaning the statement not only safeguards current rights but also emphasizes that future service continuity will not be negatively impacted.

This commitment holds significant importance within the statement's overall logic. Changes in cooperation models often raise consumer concerns about after-sales support, especially when brand operational leadership shifts. Users' most direct concern is typically, 'Who will manage my vehicle in the future?' By addressing both 'existing rights' and 'subsequent services,' the statement aims to cover both current stored rights and future incremental services.

However, the statement did not provide further details on the specific mechanisms for safeguarding user rights. For example, questions such as how Seres's leadership in the service system will interface with Huawei CBG's role in service delivery, whether adjustments will be made to the service network, or how existing service standards will be maintained were not addressed. These execution-level questions remain unanswered in this statement.

Other Four Brands Retain Huawei's Full-Process Leadership
While setting a new cooperation model for AITO, the statement also clearly defined the boundaries of this adjustment: it does not apply to other brands under Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle. Zunjie, Xiangjie, Zhijie, and Shangjie will continue to operate under Huawei's full-process leadership model.

This boundary clarification serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it isolates AITO's adjustment from the broader Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem, preventing the perception that AITO's changes represent a universal shift in the entire ecosystem's cooperation logic. On the other hand, it establishes that two distinct brand operation models will coexist within Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle: AITO will adopt a 'Seres-led, Huawei CBG-supportive' model, while Zunjie, Xiangjie, Zhijie, and Shangjie will maintain 'Huawei full-process leadership.' The statement's use of 'Huawei full-process leadership' directly contrasts with AITO's 'Seres-led' model, clearly conveying differences in governance structures.

The Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle ecosystem encompasses multiple brands, each with distinct positioning, cooperation partners, and operational models. By isolating AITO's adjustment from the other brands, the statement implies that Harmony Intelligent Connected Vehicle does not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach in managing brand partnerships but retains flexibility for differentiated arrangements across brands.

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