Huawei AITO M5 hybrid SUV launched in China, Armed with HarmonyOS software

After dropping its smartphone production significantly in 2021 owing to cancellations by US sanctions, Huawei is venturing into the electric mobility space by entering the electric vehicle industry in its home market in China. And it is doing it with the all-new AITO M5 hybrid SUV.

The new Huawei AITO M5 SUV will have a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor and battery setup and is powered by a unique operating system called “HarmonyOS”, which is exclusively developed by Huawei for the car.

What is HarmonyOS?

The main purpose of the HarmonyOS is to serve as an alternative operating system apart from Windows and Android for the basic software and systems of the car. This software was developed by Huawei to decrease its dependency on the other US-based software options, in the wake of a possible block in access to them by the US government agencies. It should be noted that Huawei has already suffered from the brunt of US security agencies in 2019 when the contract of Chinese smartphone major as the major internet service provider was terminated overnight owing to security reasons.

About Huawei AITO M5

After making smartphones for years, Huawei has tried its hands in making automobiles with the AITO M5, which is the first-ever car developed by Huawei. Initially, the Huawei AITO M5 will be launched in the home market of China. The car has already been previewed at the Shanghai Motor Show this year, with the official sales set to start in 2022.

With the AITO M5 hybrid SUV, Huawei is trying to showcase its prowess in the technological collaboration of automobile and software engineering. The SUV is debuting Huawei’s HarmonyOS for cars, which is a brand new software intended for creating a people-centric intelligent automotive ecosystem.

With a wheelbase of 2880mm, the Huawei AITO M5 promises to be one of the most spacious cars in its category of midsize SUVs. On the outside, the SUV features a streamlined and aerodynamic design with a low drag coefficient of 0.32. The front and rear profiles of the SUV are very much curved, with the SUV getting all-LED headlamps and tail lamps. The SUV gets 20-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels as standard.

On the inside, the Huawei AITO M5 offers a futuristic-looking cabin, with its driver’s cockpit having a combination of a 10.4-inch curved TFT instrument console and a 15.6-inch 2K HDR touchscreen infotainment system in the centre console. Both these screens are powered by HarmonyOS. Packed with modern amenities like a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, intelligent air purifier, level 2 autonomous driving system, V2L reverse charging, automatic climate control and wireless charging, the AITO M5 has enough space for five passengers in its cabin.

Powering the Huawei AITO M5 SUV is a combination of a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, an electric motor and a 3.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, giving it a hybrid configuration. With a four-wheel-drive system offered as standard, the maximum power output of the car is rated at 428 PS, with the performance-oriented version having a maximum power output of 496 PS. The car can cover 0-100 kmph in 4.4 seconds and can cover 1242 km with the battery being fully charged.

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