The Chinese premium car market is undergoing a sharp turnaround — and the main symbol of change has unexpectedly become the Maextro S800, created by Huawei and JAC. According to CarNewsChina, in April 2026, the model became the best-selling sedan in China among cars priced over 700,000 yuan (7,600,000 rubles).
In one month, 1142 Maextro S800 vehicles were sold. For comparison: the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class showed 736 sales, the Porsche Panamera — 616, and the BMW 7 Series along with the i7 dropped to fifth place with a result of 436 cars. The Audi A8 was even lower.
The main reason for interest is the focus not only on luxury but also on technology. The S800 received a 5.5-meter body, an 800-volt architecture, versions with three electric motors, and the Huawei ADS system with advanced driver assistance functions. The interior features three displays on the front panel, a huge head-up display, and a set of Rolls-Royce level features: a refrigerator, tables, active noise cancellation, and even a safe with biometric protection.
It is particularly telling that Maextro is not sold as a "cheap alternative" to Maybach. The model's cost reaches 1 million yuan (10,900,000 rubles), and Huawei is already preparing an even more expensive Grand Design version for the segment around 300,000 dollars (22,145,000 rubles).
For German brands, the situation looks alarming. BMW Group has already reported a 10% drop in sales in China in the first quarter of 2026, while Mercedes-Benz lost about 27% of deliveries. Against this background, local Chinese brands are beginning to take over not only the mass segment but also the territory that European luxury brands have controlled for decades.
Just a few years ago, Chinese cars competed primarily on price. Now Huawei, Yangwang, and Nio are trying to sell cars more expensive than Porsche and Maybach — and, judging by sales, the market is gradually accepting new rules.