Luxeed to launch in NZ in 2027 without Huawei tech

Summary

Chery's luxury EV brand Luxeed will enter the New Zealand market in mid-2027 with the LLounge MPV and Stormax SUV, but export versions will not carry Huawei hardware or software. Shawn Xu, Luxeed international CEO and also CEO of Omoda & Jaecoo, outlined the plan to New Zealand, Australian and UK media after the global launch at the 2026 Chery International User Summit in Wuhu, China. "For international markets, Luxeed has nothing to do with Huawei, including hardware and software," he said.

According to 36Kr, overseas models will switch to Chery's own electrical and electronic architecture, Falcon driver assistance and Lingxi cockpit, developed by Chery's central research institute; Huawei has returned responsibility for overseas models under the Harmony alliance brand to the carmakers, and AITO export models will use Bosch technology. The first export model, the LLounge, was developed as a right-hand-drive vehicle from the outset. Thailand will launch first early next year, followed by Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, with New Zealand and Australia expected in mid-2027 and the UK later.

Xu said there is no high sales target for the first year, and the brand will use a traditional dealer model, starting from major cities and building a foundation slowly before accelerating. The LLounge, known in China as the V9, is a large luxury MPV offered in six- and seven-seat layouts, with a 53.4kWh battery, 1,320km CLTC combined range, a 3,250mm wheelbase, second-row zero-gravity seats that rotate 180 degrees and recline to 123 degrees, privacy glass that dims in one second, and a 33-speaker audio system. The Stormax, known in China as the RX, is based on an 800-volt architecture, with dual motors producing 460kW and 775Nm, 0-100km/h acceleration under 3.9 seconds, a top speed above 250km/h, and 100-0km/h braking distance under 34 metres.

Both models feature dual-chamber air suspension, dual-valve CDC dampers and up to 7 degrees of rear-wheel steering. Luxeed has not confirmed powertrain specifications for the export models.

Commentary

Chery's luxury EV brand Luxeed plans to enter the New Zealand market in mid-2027 with the LLounge MPV and Stormax SUV, but the export models will completely strip out Huawei hardware and software in favour of Chery's in-house electrical and electronic architecture, Falcon driver assistance and Lingxi cockpit. The decision reflects the geopolitical pressure Huawei faces in overseas markets and Chery's consideration of supply chain autonomy and control. For NZ SME owners, Luxeed's entry will further intensify competition in the local premium EV market, where BYD's Denza, Zeekr and Polestar are already established, and Chery also plans to introduce the Exlantix brand, creating a multi-brand matrix.

Luxeed will use a traditional dealer model, starting from major cities, which offers potential collaboration opportunities for local vehicle sales, after-sales service and charging infrastructure businesses. Notably, the LLounge was developed as a right-hand-drive vehicle from the start, showing Chery's emphasis on the Australia-New Zealand market, but its lack of a high sales target for the first year indicates the brand will focus more on long-term reputation than short-term volume. Against the industry backdrop, Chinese brands are accelerating their premium global expansion, but the absence of Huawei technology may affect some consumers' expectations of intelligent features, and Chery will need to compensate through localisation and pricing strategy.

For NZ SMEs, it is worth monitoring Luxeed's specific needs in dealer network development, parts supply and the charging ecosystem, and assessing collaboration possibilities in advance.

Keywords: Luxeed, Chery, New Zealand, right-hand drive, Huawei, LLounge, Stormax, 2027, EV, export

Source: evsandbeyond.co.nz