The new Huawei electric car is poised to unleash an extraordinary electric vehicle that could redefine the market as we know it. In a bold move that signals a major shift in the automotive landscape, the technology behemoth, in collaboration with veteran automaker Chery, is preparing to launch the Luxeed S7. This isn’t just another entry into the crowded EV space; it’s a technological statement armed with two potentially game-changing innovations: a revolutionary sodium-ion battery and the ability to gain significant range in just 10 minutes.
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While the world has been watching traditional car manufacturers and EV specialists like Tesla battle for supremacy, Huawei has been quietly building an automotive powerhouse. The Luxeed S7 is the culmination of this effort, a premium electric saloon aimed squarely at the likes of the Tesla Model S. However, its true threat lies not in its sleek design or luxurious interior, but in the fundamental technology powering it.
This vehicle promises to tackle two of the biggest hurdles to mass EV adoption—cost and charging time—head-on. As we delve into the details, it becomes clear that Huawei isn’t just planning to compete; it’s planning to change the rules of the game.
The Power Partnership: Huawei and Chery’s Symbiotic Strategy
First, let’s clarify a crucial point: Huawei isn’t manufacturing the entire car from the ground up. Instead, it has formed a strategic alliance with Chery Automobile, one of China’s most established car manufacturers. This partnership model is becoming a blueprint for how tech giants can enter the automotive world without the colossal expense of building factories from scratch.
- Chery’s Role: The Manufacturing Muscle. Chery brings decades of automotive engineering, production expertise, and supply chain management to the table. They are responsible for the physical assembly of the Luxeed S7, ensuring it meets the rigorous standards of modern vehicle production.
- Huawei’s Role: The Technological Brain. Huawei is providing what it calls the “digital chassis.” This is the car’s soul, encompassing the entire technology stack. This includes:
- HarmonyOS 4: The advanced operating system powering the car’s infotainment, connectivity, and vehicle controls.
- Electric Drive Intelligence (DriveONE): The sophisticated powertrain, including the motors and power management systems.
- Autonomous Driving System (ADS 2.0): Huawei’s advanced driver-assistance system, which aims to deliver a highly autonomous driving experience without relying on high-definition maps.
- Intelligent Cockpit: The seamless integration of screens, voice commands, and user interface design.
This division of labour allows each company to play to its strengths, creating a product that is both technologically advanced and robustly manufactured.
The Sodium-Ion Revolution: Is Salt the New Lithium?
Perhaps the most groundbreaking aspect of the Huawei electric car is its reported use of a sodium-ion battery. For years, the EV industry has been dominated by lithium-ion technology, but this reliance has well-known drawbacks, including high costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and ethical mining concerns.
Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries offer a compelling alternative. Using sodium, a chemical element found abundantly and cheaply in common salt, this technology presents several key advantages:
- Lower Cost & Abundance: Sodium is one of the most abundant elements on Earth, making it significantly cheaper and more widely available than lithium. This could drastically reduce the overall cost of an EV, making them accessible to a much wider audience.
- Enhanced Safety: Sodium-ion batteries are inherently more stable and less prone to thermal runaway (the process that can lead to fires) than their lithium-ion counterparts, making them a safer option.
- Superior Cold-Weather Performance: A common complaint from EV owners in colder climates, like much of the UK, is reduced range and slower charging in winter. Sodium-ion batteries perform exceptionally well at low temperatures, retaining over 90% of their capacity even at -20°C.
- Sustainability: The sourcing of sodium is far more environmentally and ethically sound compared to the complex and often controversial mining of lithium and cobalt.
While historically held back by lower energy density (less range for the same weight), recent breakthroughs, led by giants like CATL (who are rumoured to be supplying the batteries for the Luxeed S7), have closed this gap considerably. The arrival of a major EV featuring this technology could trigger a seismic shift across the entire industry.
The 10-Minute Charge: Eradicating Range Anxiety
Alongside its innovative battery chemistry, the Luxeed S7 is set to shatter expectations for charging speed. The vehicle is built on an 800-volt architecture, a high-voltage platform that enables incredibly rapid charging.
According to reports, the Luxeed S7 will be able to:
- Add 200 km (approximately 124 miles) of range in just 5 minutes.
- Recover 400 km (approximately 249 miles) of range in just 10 minutes.
These figures are nothing short of transformative. This level of speed effectively eliminates “range anxiety” for most use cases, making the experience of recharging an EV almost as quick as refuelling a petrol car. It turns a 30-40 minute coffee break stop into a brief 5-10 minute pause.
Of course, achieving these speeds requires a charging infrastructure to match. Huawei is also investing heavily in its own network of 600 kW ultra-fast chargers to support its vehicles, creating an integrated ecosystem similar to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
A Closer Look: The Luxeed S7 vs. The Competition
The Luxeed S7 is a large, sleek saloon, measuring 4,971 mm in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase. Its design is aerodynamic and modern, clearly positioning it as a direct competitor to the Tesla Model S and other premium electric saloons like the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Porsche Taycan.
Inside, the HarmonyOS 4-powered cockpit will likely offer a deeply integrated and fluid user experience, leveraging Huawei’s consumer electronics expertise. Combined with the ADS 2.0 autonomous system, the Luxeed S7 is a showcase of cutting-edge automotive technology.
To put its capabilities into perspective, here’s how the announced specifications for the Luxeed S7 stack up against some key rivals:
| Feature | Luxeed S7 (Announced) | Tesla Model S | Porsche Taycan 4S |
| Battery Technology | Sodium-Ion & Lithium-Ion Options | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion |
| Platform Voltage | 800V | 400V | 800V |
| Charging Speed (Peak) | Up to 400 km in 10 mins | Approx. 322 km in 15 mins | Approx. 100 km in 5 mins |
| Key Tech Feature | HarmonyOS 4, ADS 2.0 | Autopilot, Full Self-Driving | Porsche Active Ride |
| Est. Max Range | Over 700 km (435 miles) | 634 km (394 miles) | 560 km (348 miles) |
| Primary Innovator | Huawei (Technology) | Tesla (Integration) | Porsche (Driving Dynamics) |
What This Means for the UK and the Global EV Market
The emergence of the Huawei electric car is more than just a new product launch; it’s a potential market disruptor.
For consumers, the combination of lower-cost battery tech and hyper-fast charging could be the tipping point that accelerates the switch to electric. The promise of a safer, more affordable, and more convenient EV is a powerful proposition.
For incumbent automakers, this is a significant threat. A tech giant with deep pockets, a global brand (albeit a controversial one in some regions), and a lead in critical software and battery technology is a formidable competitor. It will undoubtedly pressure other manufacturers to accelerate their own R&D in these areas.
However, for the Luxeed S7 to succeed in the UK and other Western markets, Huawei will need to overcome significant geopolitical headwinds and public perception issues. Building trust with consumers and governments will be as crucial as the technology itself.
The Future is Fast, and It Might Be Powered by Salt
The Luxeed S7 represents a bold vision for the future of mobility. By tackling the core challenges of cost, safety, and convenience, the Huawei electric car project has the potential to not only capture a significant slice of the EV market but to fundamentally alter its trajectory.
Whether the Luxeed S7 becomes a global bestseller remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the arrival of a sodium-ion powered, 10-minute-charging EV from a technology titan like Huawei signals that the next phase of the electric revolution is officially underway. The race just got a whole lot more interesting.
