Luxeed’s export cars will carry no Huawei hardware or software, with right-hand-drive markets first, says Luxeed International CEO Shawn Xu.
Chery’s premium brand Luxeed has started its international rollout. The export cars will have no Huawei hardware or software, and right-hand-drive markets come first.
Xu, who is also CEO of Omoda & Jaecoo, outlined the plan to Australian, New Zealand and UK media in Wuhu after the brand’s global launch at the 2026 Chery International User Summit.
Right-hand drive first
Brands from left-hand-drive markets rarely start abroad in right-hand drive, but Luxeed developed its first export model, the LLounge (pronounced El-lounge) MPV, for right-hand drive from the start. Thailand is first, early next year, followed by Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Australia and New Zealand are due around the middle of 2027, and the UK a little later.
“For this launch we developed right-hand drive first,” Xu says. “We are going to cover all of the right-hand-drive markets.”
On Australia, he says: “I propose the end of Q2, the middle of next year, for this first model.” The LLounge will go through Australian testing before it goes on sale there.
No Huawei inside
In China, Luxeed is part of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, and its cars use Huawei’s driver assistance, HarmonyOS cockpit and drive systems. Xu says none of that will be exported.
“For international, Luxeed is not related to Huawei. There is nothing, including the hardware and the software.”
His comments match a 36Kr report, carried by CnEVPost today. According to that report, Luxeed’s overseas models will use Chery’s own electrical architecture, with Chery’s Falcon driver assistance and Lingxi cockpit, and Chery’s central R&D institute is handling the development work.
The change is part of a wider shift. According to the same report, Huawei has handed responsibility for overseas models of its Harmony alliance brands to the carmakers themselves, and AITO’s export models will use Bosch technology instead.
The export cars also have different styling from the Chinese versions. “We believe we understand international customers better,” Xu says. “The Chinese design is more considered for Chinese tastes.”
Two flagships
Luxeed showed two models at the launch. The LLounge, sold in China as the V9, is a large luxury MPV with six- and seven-seat layouts. In China it is a range-extended EV with a 53.4 kWh battery, a claimed 1,320 km CLTC combined range and a 3,250 mm wheelbase. Its second-row zero-gravity seats rotate a full 180 degrees and recline to 123°, and the privacy glass darkens in one second. The cabin also has a Privacy Acoustic Shield mode and a 33-speaker sound system.
The Stormax, sold in China as the RX, is a performance SUV on an 800-volt architecture. Its dual motors produce 460 kW (617 hp) and 775 Nm. Luxeed claims 0-100 km/h in under 3.9 seconds, a top speed above 250 km/h and a 100-0 km/h stop in under 34 m on six-piston front calipers.
Both cars use dual-chamber air suspension, dual-valve CDC dampers and ±7° rear-wheel steering. Luxeed has not confirmed export powertrain specifications, which matters given that the export cars drop Huawei hardware.
Building the network
Xu is not setting big volume targets for the first year. “In the first year we don’t expect too much from a luxury brand, but we want to build a good brand in Australia,” he says. “We prefer to start slowly and build a good foundation.”
The brand will use conventional dealerships, starting in major cities. “Australia is still a traditional store market, so at the beginning we need to build some good stores in tier-one cities to give us coverage,” he says. “We welcome our current dealers if they have good performance and are interested in investing. We have seen many potential dealers, some from our current network and some new. We have already approached some, and in some markets we have made a lot of progress.”
Luxeed has also announced plans for the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Chery has told Philippine media both models will arrive there in 2027.
Xu describes Luxeed as a different proposition from Chery’s volume brands. “Luxeed is a premium brand, so it is different to a value brand and targets different customers,” he says. “It brings together luxury, full electrification, intelligence and the driving experience. There are not many brands that combine those, and that is where we see the big opportunity.”
