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Here’s How The Huawei Aito M9 Electric SUV Is A Smartphone On Wheels

The Aito M9 is called a smartphone on wheels because Huawei links its phones, watches and services to the SUV. Here is what actually works—and what does not.
Entry375 Date Time7 min MechanicCarCody Team
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The Huawei Aito M9 is not literally a smartphone with wheels, and Huawei does not manufacture it. Seres builds the full-size luxury SUV, while Huawei supplies much of the software, connectivity, digital-key technology, smart-cockpit hardware and driver-assistance system.

That distinction matters because the M9’s “smartphone on wheels” reputation comes from specific functions: Huawei-phone app handoff, phone and watch keys, multi-screen entertainment, voice and device continuity, and a software-defined driving interface. It is closer to a connected Huawei ecosystem on four wheels than to a car that simply has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

What the Huawei Aito M9 actually is

The Aito M9 is a China-market, three-row luxury SUV developed through the Huawei-Seres partnership. Huawei is the technology partner; Seres is the vehicle manufacturer.

There are also two fundamentally different powertrains:

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Version How it works
BEV A battery-electric vehicle with no gasoline engine.
EREV An electric-drive vehicle with a gasoline engine that acts as a generator when the battery needs support.

Calling every M9 an electric SUV is therefore incomplete. The battery-electric version is a conventional BEV, while the range-extended version uses a gasoline engine even though the wheels are driven electrically.

The model has also changed since its December 2023 launch. Early coverage described a vehicle measuring approximately 5,230 mm long, 1,999 mm wide, 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,110-mm wheelbase. The newer Chinese-market specification lists 5,285 mm in length, 2,026 mm in width, 1,845 mm in height and a 3,125-mm wheelbase. Equipment and Huawei ADS versions can differ as well, so claims about “the M9” need a model year and trim attached to them.

The cockpit behaves more like a connected device

The original M9’s cabin was designed around screens and shared digital services rather than a single infotainment display. Launch specifications included:

  • A 12.3-inch instrument display
  • A 15.6-inch central touchscreen
  • A 16-inch front-passenger display
  • Rear passenger screens on higher trims
  • A claimed total of 10 screens throughout the cabin
  • A 75-inch augmented-reality head-up display on higher trims

Huawei also described a 25-speaker HUAWEI SOUND system rated at 2,080 watts and a retractable 32-inch projection screen. Those figures belong to specific launch configurations and should not be treated as standard equipment on every current M9.

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The result is a cabin where the front passenger can use a dedicated screen, rear occupants can receive their own entertainment, and the driver gets navigation and vehicle information without relying on one central panel for everything. It is the same basic logic used by smartphones and tablets: separate users, separate interfaces and services that can move between devices.

Phone-to-car service transfer is the key feature

The most convincing part of the “smartphone on wheels” description is Huawei’s service-continuity system. A supported Huawei phone can transfer services such as navigation or music to the car instead of making the driver start from scratch on the vehicle screen.

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The M9 manual refers to these functions as service flow and tap-to-transfer. For NFC transfer, the procedure is:

  1. Turn on Bluetooth and NFC on the phone.
  2. Open the app to be transferred, such as Amap navigation or Huawei Music.
  3. Place the phone’s NFC area near the NFC sensing area around the center display.
  4. Wait for the phone to vibrate.
  5. Accept the transfer prompts on the phone and the vehicle screen.

There is also a car-side route for supported phone apps: Apps & Services > Super Desktop. From there, the driver can select a phone app for display in the vehicle. Supported phones can show the phone application alongside HUAWEI ADS navigation, which is more flexible than simply mirroring the entire phone screen.

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There are limitations. Automatic continuation requires the phone and car to use the same Huawei account, or the owner must select Always trust this device during initial setup. An app that is merely sitting in the phone’s background will not automatically transfer. Navigation split-screen also requires a phone running HarmonyOS 4.3 or later, while general Super Desktop support depends on the phone model and software version.

In other words, the M9 does not turn every Android or iPhone app into a native car application. It creates a controlled bridge between supported Huawei devices, supported apps and the car’s HarmonyOS-based cockpit.

Your phone can become the key

The M9 also borrows one of the most recognizably smartphone-like features from newer vehicles: a digital key.

In the current manual, the setup path is:

  1. Open the AITO app.
  2. Go to Me > My Vehicles > Add Vehicle.
  3. Open My Car > Digital Car Key > Phone Key.
  4. Keep the phone connected to the internet while creating the key.

Depending on the vehicle and phone, the key can use NFC, Bluetooth or Huawei NearLink, also known as Xinghan. NFC unlocking involves holding the phone near the NFC area on the outside center of the vehicle’s mirror. After unlocking, the vehicle can be started for five minutes. Bluetooth and NearLink can provide app control, passive unlocking and passive locking when the phone approaches or leaves the vehicle.

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This is not universal smartphone compatibility. Huawei’s official support documentation says the paired-phone digital-key system requires Android or HarmonyOS; iOS is not supported for that setup. NearLink and other advanced functions also require compatible hardware and software.

A Huawei watch can control the SUV

The M9 can extend some vehicle controls to a supported Huawei smartwatch. On the watch, the owner opens the app list, selects AITO, swipes up to Vehicle Control and enters a security code during first use.

Available controls can include:

  • Locking the vehicle
  • Opening or closing the windows for ventilation
  • Controlling the climate system
  • Operating the trunk
  • Finding the vehicle using its lights or horn

There is a practical security consequence: five incorrect watch-code attempts lock the account for 24 hours. The code can be reset in the phone AITO app.

Some newer configurations support a UWB watch key. Current official requirements include M9 OTA software version 4.2.1.4 or later, a compatible watch such as the WATCH 4 Pro, certain WATCH 5 versions, WATCH Ultimate or WATCH Ultimate 2, plus current Huawei Health and AITO applications.

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The system is also more complicated when multiple devices are nearby. The M9 can support up to four simultaneous Bluetooth devices when a phone, watch and physical key are present. The first digital key to connect receives passive lock and unlock authority. If a connected UWB watch has that authority, the phone does not receive it until the watch has been disconnected for more than 10 seconds. Passive approach unlocking can occasionally fail, according to Huawei’s own support documentation, so the physical key remains important.

The headlights can project images—but they are not a built-in TV

One of the M9’s more unusual features is Huawei XPIXEL projection lighting. On configurations equipped for it, the headlights can project an image into a field measuring up to 100 inches at a projection distance of 10 meters.

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That does not mean the M9 has a permanent 100-inch television mounted in the front of the car. The projection size depends on distance, equipment and operating conditions. The current AITO page also indicates that the feature is configuration-dependent and that a microphone may need to be purchased separately.

Likewise, the retractable projection screen and passenger entertainment hardware vary by trim and model version. They are impressive demonstrations of what a modern vehicle can do, but they are not evidence that every M9 has the same cabin technology.

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Huawei ADS is smart, not autonomous

The other half of the M9’s high-tech identity is Huawei Advanced Driving System, or ADS. The original vehicle launched with HUAWEI ADS 2.0 and a 192-line LiDAR system. The current Chinese-market M9 page advertises HUAWEI ADS 5.

Those labels should not be mixed together. ADS 2.0, later ADS generations and ADS 5 relate to different vehicle specifications, sensors, software and available functions. Some capabilities may also require an over-the-air update or paid activation.

More importantly, ADS is an advanced driver-assistance system, not autonomous driving. AITO’s own disclaimer says that the driver must remain attentive, keep active control and be ready to intervene. A system that can assist with navigation, lane positioning or obstacle handling still operates within limits involving road markings, weather, construction zones, sensor performance and unusual traffic situations.

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What “smartphone on wheels” gets right—and wrong

The shorthand suggests The more accurate explanation
Huawei makes the SUV Seres manufactures it; Huawei supplies major digital and driver-assistance technology.
Every M9 is fully electric The range includes both BEV and EREV powertrains.
Any phone works as a key Digital-key support depends on operating system, device hardware and software versions; iOS is excluded from the paired-phone setup.
Any phone app runs natively in the car Supported phone apps can use Super Desktop or service transfer under specific conditions.
Every M9 has identical screens and projection features Equipment varies by trim, model year and configuration.
ADS drives autonomously ADS assists the driver, who remains responsible for control.

So the phrase is useful if it describes the M9’s design philosophy: the vehicle shares services, accounts, keys and controls with a user’s personal devices. It becomes misleading when it implies that Huawei builds the car, that all phones are supported, or that the SUV can drive itself.

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FAQ

Is Huawei the manufacturer of the Aito M9?

No. Seres manufactures the Aito M9. Huawei is the technology partner behind much of its smart cockpit, connectivity, digital-key and driver-assistance technology.

Is the Aito M9 fully electric?

Not always. The lineup includes a BEV version and an EREV version with a gasoline engine-generator. The exact powertrain depends on the trim.

Can an iPhone be used as an Aito M9 digital key?

Huawei’s official support documentation says the paired-phone digital-key system requires Android or HarmonyOS and does not support iOS.

Does Huawei ADS make the M9 autonomous?

No. Huawei ADS is an advanced driver-assistance system. The driver must remain attentive, retain control and be prepared to intervene.

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The Bottom Line

The Aito M9 earns the “smartphone on wheels” label through device continuity rather than marketing alone: Huawei phones can transfer supported services to the cockpit, compatible phones and watches can act as keys, and the cabin is built around multiple connected displays. But the experience is tightly dependent on the M9’s model year, trim, OTA software, Huawei account, phone operating system and compatible hardware. It is a highly integrated connected SUV—not a universally compatible smartphone platform, and not a self-driving car.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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