Huawei and SAIC Unveil Shangjie: A New Brand Shaping the Future of Smart Mobility

In a strategic move that reflects the growing collaboration between leading tech firms and automotive manufacturers, SAIC Motor Group and Huawei have officially announced the launch of a brand new smart vehicle marque named Shangjie. The announcement comes as part of Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance), an initiative aimed at redefining the future of intelligent mobility both locally and globally. The brand is expected to debut its first SUV model in the fall of 2025.

HIMA: A Digital Alliance Shaping the Future of Smart Mobility

The launch of the Shangjie brand falls under the umbrella of HIMA, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance led by Huawei. This ambitious initiative aims to create an integrated ecosystem for smart vehicles, leveraging Huawei’s advanced capabilities in software, autonomous driving systems, and digital interaction between humans and machines.

Huawei plays a central role in this alliance, going beyond its role as a tech supplier to become a full fledged partner in building the digital backbone of the next generation automobile. Its contributions include designing the vehicle’s electronic architecture, integrating the HarmonyOS operating system into cabins, delivering cutting edge Huawei ADS autonomous driving solutions, and providing continuous cloud based OTA updates.

The HIMA alliance brings together several innovative automotive ventures, including AITO in partnership with Seres, LUXEED with Chery, Stellato with BAIC, the newly introduced Shangjie with SAIC, and the Maextro project with JAC. While each brand targets a different segment, they all share a unified foundation built on Huawei’s digital infrastructure, positioning them to lead in the rapidly growing smart mobility market.

Shangjie: A Vision Rooted in Simplicity and High Reliability

Shangjie was born from a deep strategic partnership between SAIC and Huawei, backed by an initial investment of 6 billion yuan, or approximately 3.1 billion Saudi riyals. The project includes the development of a state of the art manufacturing facility dedicated to the brand, along with a specialized team of over 5,000 employees.

At the core of Shangjie’s identity are four guiding pillars: elegance in design, technological excellence, unwavering trust, and a strong focus on the human experience. The brand’s design philosophy embraces the concept of “pure family design,” emphasizing clean, refined exteriors supported by top tier safety and reliability standards.

Shangjie aims to strike a thoughtful balance between visual appeal and intelligent technology, offering a premium driving experience that blends comfort, performance, and cutting edge innovation for today’s discerning driver.

Shangjie’s First SUV: Sleek Design Meets Smart Huawei Tech

Leaked and teaser images suggest that the first model from Shangjie will debut as a midsize SUV, blending classic styling with modern, tech forward details powered by Huawei innovations. The front fascia features headlights inspired by models from the Hongmeng Travel project, reinforcing a cohesive visual identity shared across HIMA alliance vehicles. Along the sides, traditional door handles and practical roof rails add both functionality and design appeal.

A standout feature on the roof is the LiDAR sensor, confirming that the SUV will come equipped with Huawei’s intelligent driving system, Huawei ADS, positioning it among the latest generation of vehicles with advanced driver assistance capabilities. The rear design strikes a refined balance between elegance and strength, with smooth contours and a solid structure that gives the SUV a confident, upscale road presence.

Xiaolan Deng Blue Light: A New Language for Smart Driving

Huawei has unveiled an innovative feature called the Xiaolan Deng Blue Light, set to debut in the first model from the Shangjie brand. According to Huawei executive Yu Chengdong, this feature acts as an external light indicator that signals when the vehicle's intelligent or semi autonomous driving systems are active. It aims to enhance visual communication between the vehicle, pedestrians, and surrounding traffic.

This technology adds a new layer of safety and smart interaction by clearly signaling the car’s current driving mode in real time. It helps reduce uncertainty on the road and contributes to a more transparent driving environment. More than a light, Xiaolan Deng reflects Huawei’s broader vision of transforming vehicles into intelligent, connected entities that actively communicate with urban infrastructure and their surroundings, ushering in a new era of behaviorally and visually responsive mobility.

What Does the Future Hold for Shangjie?

Early indicators suggest that Shangjie’s first SUV is just the beginning of a lineup of high end smart vehicles fully integrated with Huawei’s advanced technologies. SAIC plans to leverage its newly established factory to deliver precision manufacturing and exceptional build quality, while Huawei provides a complete intelligent driving system, HarmonyOS for Cars, seamless smartphone integration, and OTA cloud updates.

Shangjie’s ambitions extend far beyond the Chinese market. The brand is eyeing global expansion, especially in fast evolving regions like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where demand is growing for vehicles with next gen digital systems and AI driven driving experiences.