Leveraging Huawei, BAIC Arcfox makes another push towards the high-end market
```
On April 28, BAIC Arcfox officially launched its new product series “Wendao,” with its first mid-to-large MPV, the Wendao V9, opening for pre-sale at prices ranging from 219,900 yuan to 286,900 yuan.
From a technical route perspective, Arcfox is no longer sticking only to pure electric vehicles, but is now entering the range-extended MPV market through the new "Taiyue Platform" equipped with the "Huawei Snow Owl Range Extender System."
At a time when most new energy car companies are locked in a fierce price war, Arcfox’s commercial intent with the Wendao V9 is very clear. It seeks to leverage Huawei’s range extending technology to break into the high-margin segment of large MPVs.
However, when the core three-electric systems and intelligent driving technology are highly dependent on leading suppliers, what Arcfox needs to prove to the market is precisely its core strengths in system integration and chassis tuning as an OEM, rather than simply acting as a “technology porter.”
01 Wendao V9—High “Huawei Content”
For this new series, BAIC Group Chairman Zhang Jianyong specifically explained the logic behind the name “Wendao.”
He explained that “Wen” stands for listening to one's heart and insight into users’ needs, as well as the determination to break new ground. “Dao” refers to the logic of industrial evolution and the foundation for steady and far-reaching corporate development.
On this basis, he summed up BAIC’s approach to “Wendao” in three layers: the way of operation, the way of competition, and the way of car-making.
However, all of these ideas must be truly reflected in the products.
As a major new model tasked with breaking out, the Wendao V9 did not take a go-it-alone R&D approach; instead, it chose deep alliances with leading industry suppliers for its underlying architecture and core three-electric systems.
Addressing large MPVs’ physical shortcomings in crash safety and handling, Arcfox debuted the “Taiyue Platform,” purpose-built for large vehicles.
It is reported that high-strength steel makes up nearly 90% of the Wendao V9’s body. At the same time, the new car is equipped with the "Yuanjing AI Chassis," which combines intelligent road preview and active suspension damping adjustment, aiming to minimize body sway during start, braking, and cornering—solving the common problem of third-row MPV passengers getting carsick.
The powertrain is the car’s main technical highlight.
This time, Arcfox broke with its previous dedication to pure electric and, for the first time on the Wendao V9, introduced the Huawei “Snow Owl Range Extender System” and “Zhijing Electric Drive,” paired with Contemporary Amperex’s Xiaoyao battery.
Test data shows its 1.5T range extender has a thermal efficiency of 43.23%, enabling this MPV longer than 5.3 meters to achieve an electric range of 310 km and a comprehensive CLTC range of 1330 km. This long-range, low-energy hardware combination directly rivals the first tier of mainstream PHEV MPVs like the Voyah Dreamer and Denza D9.
According to official info, the Wendao V9 is the first MPV to feature the combination of Huawei Snow Owl, Huawei Zhijing, and CATL Xiaoyao. This further underlines its “Huawei content.”
In terms of intelligent driving and cockpit configuration, the Wendao V9 is equipped across the range with the Yuanjing Intelligent Driving Assistance System, supporting highway and urban NOA navigation assistance and full-scenario automatic parking. The cockpit is fitted with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8775 integrated cockpit-driving chip, and the second row offers double zero-gravity seats. However, features like the built-in fridge and magnetorheological suspension are only available on the mid and high Ultra and Ultra+ trims.
For this car, Zhang Jianyong said at the launch that “we compete on value, not price,” but the entry price of 219,900 yuan is itself a direct response to the current competitive environment. Compared with many MPV products, this price is still competitive. Whether this strategy can win over consumers remains to be seen after launch.
02 Urgently Needs High-End Models to Fill the Gap
To understand the strategic intent of the Wendao series, one must first review the Arcfox brand’s past trajectory.
The Arcfox brand debuted at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show as a core brand for BAIC Group’s new energy transformation, and was positioned early on as a high-end smart new energy vehicle brand.
The early Alpha T and Alpha S models both launched above 200,000 yuan. In its first full sales year (2021), only 4,993 vehicles were delivered. The Alpha S Huawei HI Edition once reached a price point close to 400,000 yuan as Huawei HI’s first mass-produced model, but market response fell far short of expectations.
This difficult start laid the groundwork for Arcfox’s subsequent strategy shift.
In 2023, Arcfox’s annual sales were about 30,000 units, putting it on the margins among mainstream NEV brands. In 2024, sales rebounded to about 81,000, but the brand still did not enter the core competitive circle.
2025 became a turning point: annual sales exceeded 160,000, up 99% year-on-year, and quarterly sales stabilized at 20,000 per month in Q4. While three straight years of doubling sales is impressive on the surface,
the composition of those sales merits detailed analysis.
In H1 2025, Arcfox’s main sellers, Alpha S5 and Alpha T5, were mainly in the 120-150k yuan range. The true driver of growth in H2 was the T1, a small pure EV launched in Sep 2025 with a starting price of 62,800 yuan. By December 2025, T1’s monthly sales exceeded 17,000, accounting for almost 70% of the brand’s total that month.
In other words, Arcfox’s recent growth has relied on “lower prices for higher volume.”
According to public data, the Alpha T5 has been discounted three times, with some versions dropping to 115,800 yuan; the Alpha S5 underwent two price cuts, with terminal prices down to 102,800 yuan.
This low-price strategy brought higher sales but continued to drag down brand positioning, with consumer expectations for Arcfox now anchored in the under-150k yuan, mid-to-lower-end segment.
The decline of high-end products has become even more pronounced. The Alpha S, once seen as Arcfox’s flagship, sold just over 2,000 units in all of 2025. In the first three months of 2026, the model sold only about a hundred units.
The Alpha T, as an SUV flagship, also failed to establish itself. The previously highly anticipated Alpha S Huawei HI Edition, even with full-stack Huawei smart tech, still struggled after repeated markdowns.
The task for the Wendao series is clear: help Arcfox gain a foothold above the 200,000 yuan segment.
However, with consumers now used to equating Arcfox with 100,000-yuan-class products, moving the brand upmarket will not be easy.
Meanwhile, external competition is not letting up.
The MPV market is also tightening. The Denza D9 delivered over 100,000 units in 2025, ranking first among mid-to-high-end MPVs for three consecutive years. Voyah Dreamer’s sales topped 80,000, up 46% year-on-year over the same period.
Besides strong incumbents, new entrants like the Leapmotor D99 and other “9-Series” models are also flooding in, while December 2025 retail MPV sales fell 20% year-on-year, signaling weakening demand.
An auto industry practitioner told Wallstreetcn that two or three years ago, the MPV segment, especially for new energy MPVs, was one of the few markets that hadn’t been fully contested; competition wasn't that fierce. Now, many models are joining the new energy MPV race, making the competition especially intense—the Wendao V9 faces hard challenges.
The Wendao V9, as a new brand in an increasingly crowded and slow-growing market, needs time to build its channel, reputation, and user trust.
Three years ago, the Alpha S Huawei HI Edition also leveraged Huawei to target the high end at 400,000 yuan; now, monthly sales are less than 100 units. Wendao V9 needs a different result.
Arcfox needs to prove it can create its own core brand value on the basis of Huawei’s technology, rather than remaining a “porter” of Huawei solutions. Climbing back up amid price wars and brand erosion is tough, but it’s a hurdle Arcfox must overcome.
Risk Disclaimer and Limitation of LiabilityThe market has risks, and investment must be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account individual users’ specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article fit their particular situation. Investing accordingly is at your own risk. ```