Aiva ME7. Credit: Aiva On the evening of September 28, Aiva, a brand co-developed by Aito maker Seres and battery giant CATL, officially unveiled its first production model, the Aiva ME7, during Paris Fashion Week. This global debut marks the brand’s transition from concept to mass production. The brand’s manufacturer, Saidou Technology, formerly known as Landian Technology, operates with Seres holding a 32.96% stake, the Chongqing Shapingba state-owned enterprise (Shaci Zhiyuan) serves as the largest shareholder, with CATL also holding approximately 9.89%. Under this model, Saidou maintains independent operations for brand strategy, product definition, and sales channels, while leveraging Seres’ manufacturing prowess at the “Phoenix Factory” for production. Front, side and rear of the Aiva ME7. The Aiva ME7 is a mid-size crossover coupe SUV measuring 4,850 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. Aiva claims its design language is heavily inspired by nature: Exterior: The “Smart Light Eyes” pixel headlights support gesture interaction and can display dynamic lighting expressions. The front fascia features a “submersible” design, while the shark-fin-inspired front bumper enhances both aerodynamics and visual identity. Aerodynamics: The vehicle incorporates ten air ducts and a “Double Whale Tail” wide-body rear spoiler. Colours: The debut showcased three nature-inspired colours: Sea Wolf Silver, Coral Purple, and Flamingo Red, each designed to shift in appearance based on light and perspective. Last month, a camouflaged Aiva ME7 was spotted undergoing testing in Turpan, China. Camouflaged Aiva ME7 testing. Editor’s comment In terms of its partnership model, Aiva is like Seres’ version of Avatr. In the past, Seres relied too heavily on Aito, with Huawei taking a large share of its profits, meanwhile, Landian, its brand that does not partner with Huawei, generates no profit. Overall, Aito’s target audience tends to be older, while Aiva is the result of Seres’ efforts to appeal to younger customers.
