It’s rare for carmakers to have their brand name follow a certain theme. Usually, automakers use the last names of their founders or use a combination of words from their native tongue.

The name of the car brand Aito stands for “adding intelligence to auto.” Based on the models it exhibited at the 2025 Manila International Auto Show, it looks like these are indeed made to push the envelope when it comes to automotive technology.

Aito is a joint venture between new-energy vehicle maker Seres and tech giant Huawei. The results of this collaboration are interesting NEVs that exude opulence and are brimming with smart features.

At MIAS, the Chinese automaker gave us a preview of the M5 luxury compact crossover and the M7 midsize luxury crossover. But the star of the NEV maker’s booth was the M9 full-size luxury crossover.

The M9 is huge. Dimensions are 5,230mm long, 1,999mm wide, and 1,800mm tall. This makes it longer and wider—but lower—than a Toyota Land Cruiser 300. But it has a wheelbase of 3,110mm, which improves ride comfort and interior space.

The bright orange exterior has a two-tone motif, and the sleek body with a drag coefficient of 0.279 looks kind of familiar. But the Galaxy headlights and the Starlight taillights are a breath of fresh air and a sight to behold.

The interior looks like a hotel suite on wheels. On the dash are three display panels that almost span the crossover’s width, bookended by HVAC vents. The choice of materials and the Zero Gravity seats make it a comfortable place to be in.

It also has nifty features like “an industry first” adaptive dual armrest and a 25-speaker audio system. A panoramic sunroof seems like an ordinary feature in this car as it also has a dual-mode fridge and a fragrance system.

Just in case you want to make the interior a little bit cozier, there are 16.8 million colors to choose from in its LED ambient lighting system. Plus, the million-pixel intelligent headlights’ illumination can be tweaked to your liking.

The M9 is also a super safe car. Its body, along with active and passive safety features, has a five-star C-NCAP rating.

There are two powertrain options for this crossover. The range-extender electric vehicle version has a motor each for the front and rear axles, with a total of 489hp and 675Nm of torque.

It is paired with a 1.5-liter turbocharged range extender, which produces 147hp and 205Nm of twist. Juice comes from a 40kWh ternary lithium battery, which gives it a driving range of 1,362km.

There’s also a pure EV version with two motors, with an output of 523hp and 673Nm of torque. It has a bigger 100kWh ternary lithium battery pack, that offers up to 630km of range.

If you are interested in the M9—or in the other Aito offerings—you can book a test drive at Seres Aito EDSA Test Drive Center in Greenhills, San Juan, or visit its website here.