The Stelato S9 is a panoramic intelligent flagship sedan co-developed by the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) and BAIC BJEV, first launched in August 2024. Serving as the inaugural strategic product from the Huawei-BAIC ‘Stelato’ marque, it targets the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) sedan segment above RM300,000, going head-to-head against established executive rivals like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and Audi A6L. On 20 November 2025, the updated Stelato S9 made its official debut with comprehensive upgrades in Huawei's flagship tech, offering both range-extended (EREV) and fully electric (BEV) powertrains across four variants, with official retail pricing ranging from RM309,800 to RM369,800. By March 2026, the model had maintained its reign as the best-selling NEV sedan in the above-RM300,000 bracket for five consecutive months.
Positioned within HIMA's core portfolio alongside AITO, Luxeed, and Maextro, the Stelato S9 stands as BAIC Group and Huawei's crowning flagship, squarely aimed at the executive luxury sedan market above RM300,000. Key highlights include the advanced Huawei Qiankun ADS 4 autonomous driving suite, the intelligent Huawei Turing chassis platform, HarmonyOS Smart Cockpit (maxed out with over ten displays), an 800V high-voltage architecture, up to 1,378 km of combined range, and the coveted 'fridge, TV, and lounge sofa' luxury creature comforts. Following an initial refresh in March 2025 that introduced an 896-line LiDAR, the annual facelift rolled out in November 2025, bringing the entry-level EREV variant down to RM309,800. Key rivals include the NIO ET7, ZEEKR 001, Avatr 12, as well as the quintessential German executive trio—the '56E'.
The Stelato S9 carries forward the 'Universe Aesthetics' design philosophy, sculpting form and shadow through cohesive surfaces that convey a clean yet muscular, sculptural presence. The front end adopts a closed-off fascia, where Galaxy headlights meet a full-width LED daytime running light bar to deliver an unmistakable visual signature. The 2025 update introduces Liquid Silver and Fairy Green exterior finishes alongside an Obsidian Black package (bespoke alloy wheels, badging, chrome exterior trim, and red brake callipers), perfectly complementing the illuminated Universe Star badge and Huawei’s million-pixel smart projection headlamps. Around the rear, the new Nebula full-width taillight cluster features multi-layered dynamic lighting effects for instant road presence.
In terms of dimensions, the 2026 Pure Electric AWD variant measures 5,160 mm long, 2,005 mm wide, and 1,492 mm tall, riding on a 3,050 mm wheelbase that closely approaches full-size D-segment luxury saloon proportions. Aerodynamic efficiency is class-leading, boasting an ultra-low drag coefficient of just 0.193 Cd—the sleekest among production luxury sedans.
Inside, the cabin is available in four upscale palettes: Terracotta Orange, Truffle Brown, Sand Apricot, and Amber Brown, appointed with Nappa leather, imported genuine wood veneer, and intricate twin-needle quilting. NVH and cabin privacy are elevated by nine pieces of double-laminated acoustic glass, comprehensive privacy shielding, and an acoustic privacy sound barrier. Notably, the Stelato S9 EREV variant stands at a height of 1,601 mm—an unusually tall stance for this segment.
The 2025 Stelato S9 offers a choice of two electrified powertrains: an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and a pure electric vehicle (BEV):
Extended-Range (EREV): Features a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder range extender (delivering 115 kW / 156 PS) mated to a rear-mounted electric drive motor (227 kW / 309 PS), outputting a total system output of 227 kW for a 0-100 km/h century sprint in 7.2 seconds. Energy is supplied by either a 37 kWh or 53 kWh ternary lithium battery pack, delivering CLTC electric-only ranges of 256 km and 372 km respectively, and a combined CLTC range of up to 1,378 km. When running on low battery charge, its WLTC fuel economy is rated at 5.85 litres per 100 km.
Pure Electric (BEV): Built on Huawei's 800V Whale battery architecture and equipped with a 100 kWh battery pack. Available in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) setups: the single-motor RWD variant produces 227 kW (309 PS), while the dual-motor AWD pushes out a combined 385 kW (approx. 524 PS) and 673 Nm of torque, dispatching 0-100 km/h in 3.92 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h. On the CLTC cycle, RWD models yield up to 816 km, while the AWD achieves 721 km. A 15-minute DC fast charge juices up to 400 km of range.
Additionally, the entire Stelato S9 range supports 3 kW vehicle-to-load (V2L) reverse charging.
Underpinning the Stelato S9 is Huawei's next-generation Turing Platform, upgraded with a 6-in-1 domain-fused architecture derived from the flagship Maextro. The running gear comprises front double wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension, paired as standard with 5-stage height-adjustable adaptive air suspension and Continuous Damping Control (CDC) dampers, striking an optimal balance between agile handling and plush ride comfort with mechanical refinement rivaling seven-figure luxury saloons. On the software front, the setup integrates Huawei Qiankun ADS 4, Spatio-Temporal Intelligent Suspension Network, HUAWEI XMOTION Control, and HUAWEI DATS (Dynamic Adaptive Torque System), enabling proactive road preview scanning and razor-sharp stability during high-speed emergency evasion.
In dynamic testing, the Stelato S9 clocked an impressive 84.1 km/h in the CATARC moose test. An active intelligent anti-slip system enhances pull-away smoothness by 60% and braking composure by 90%. Furthermore, its all-scenario tyre blowout stability control seamlessly manages a cornering blowout at 90 km/h and maintains directional control during a straight-line blowout at speeds of up to 140 km/h.
The cabin showcases the HarmonyOS Smart Cockpit with a fully specced multi-screen layout exceeding ten displays. Headlining the dashboard are a 16.1-inch 3K ultra-responsive touchscreen infotainment display, a 12.3-inch front passenger entertainment screen, and an optional 32-inch Intelligent Projection Cinema System 2.0 (with a 200% bump in resolution and 63% higher brightness). It also gains the MagLink Mini magnetic detachable control tablet, giving rear occupants effortless command over vehicle functions.
In-car entertainment comes courtesy of the standard Huawei Sound Superior Series audio system, packing 25 acoustic drivers driven by a potent 2,080W amplifier for true 7.1.4 spatial surround sound, complete with mic-free in-car karaoke.
Seating appointments include standard Cloud Comfort seats with heating, ventilation, and massage across all rows. The front passenger seat features an executive zero-gravity function (125° + 114° zero-pressure reclined angle), with optional dual zero-gravity executive captain chairs available for the rear (108° + 128° recline angle). A dedicated compressor-driven hot/cold storage box is also on board, capable of chilling from -6°C to 10°C and warming between 35°C and 50°C.
Convenience is further enhanced by power-operated doors all round, with gesture-controlled opening for the front doors, a soft-close power front trunk (frunk) with 'Knock-Knock' double-tap access, and a hands-free kick-sensor powered tailgate. Cabin wellness is safeguarded by the HarmonyOS ALPS Health Cockpit, which employs adsorption and degradation materials, front and rear negative oxygen ion generators, and a 24-hour intelligent fresh air ventilation system boasting an antibacterial rating exceeding 99%.
Driving assistance is spearheaded by the Huawei Qiankun ADS 4 Advanced Edition, out-specifying competitors right from the base trim. Its comprehensive sensory hardware suite comprises 36 high-precision sensors, including a 192-line LiDAR, three solid-state LiDAR units, and a 3-unit distributed 4D millimetre-wave radar array. Top-tier specifications can be optioned with an ultra-advanced 896-line dual-optical image-grade LiDAR, boosting resolution fourfold to identify small 14 cm objects up to 120 metres away.
Operating on the novel WEWA architecture, the system enables Parking-to-Parking Pilot Assist (P2P 2.0), capably interpreting and navigating intricate road environments—including automated passage through ETC toll gates, bus lanes, variable lanes, and tidal flow lanes—delivering true point-to-point guidance right to the parking bay with a single touch. Automated parking has also been significantly refined, accurately detecting side and rear overhanging obstacles and effortlessly manoeuvring into tight spaces where door clearance is nearly zero without scraping.
For active safety, the Omni-Directional Collision Avoidance 4.0 system sharpens object detection under adverse driving conditions like torrential rain, thick fog, and dust haze to proactively avert crashes. Passive safety is reinforced by an ultra-high-strength safety cage built with a 'six-transverse, eight-longitudinal' bulkhead architecture, bolstered by seven-tier critical systems redundancy and nine airbags.
Battery integrity is fortified by 15 layers of physical protection, having passed five extreme safety benchmarks: a 430 mm water wading test (over four times the national standard), 300 J underbody impact resistance (twice the national standard), a 35 km/h high-speed sharp-object bottom scrape, a -30°C sub-zero cold start (1.5 times the standard), and a rigorous 300-second underbody direct fire exposure test.
Since debuting in August 2024, the Stelato S9 has experienced a sluggish start followed by a steady recovery. Initially offered exclusively as a pure electric vehicle starting from RM399,800, cumulative deliveries between September 2024 and January 2025 fell short of 8,000 units, with monthly sales peaking at just 2,163 units before tumbling to a low of 643 units. Motoring analysts attributed this subdued reception to the lack of an EREV powertrain option and the uphill battle of establishing brand equity against the German triumvirate (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi) in the prestigious above-RM300,000 tier.
The turning point arrived in April 2025 with the launch of the Stelato S9 EREV, which slashed the barrier to entry to RM309,800 (a sharp RM90,000 drop compared to the EV). This immediately sparked a sales resurgence, hitting a record peak of 4,215 units in June. The momentum was short-lived, however, as sales plummeted by over half to 1,942 units in July and slid further to just 1,072 units in September.
In November 2025, the facelifted Stelato S9 landed with six major updates across both EREV and BEV lines. Around the same time, the estate variant—the Stelato S9 Touring (Stelato S9T)—proved an instant hit, garnering over 30,000 firm orders within just 66 days of its rollout. Reaffirming its long-term commitment, BAIC Group announced a massive RM20,000,000,000 investment to bolster the Stelato brand and expand its portfolio across multiple vehicle categories.
By March 2026, another revision brought the high-definition 896-line LiDAR into the fold, cementing the Stelato S9's spot as the undisputed sales champion in the above-RM300,000 NEV sedan category for five months running.
On the ground, owner sentiment reflects widespread praise for the S9’s cutting-edge technological pedigree (HarmonyOS cabin and ADS autonomous driving), exceptional comfort appointments (zero-gravity seating and projection theatre), and dependable real-world endurance on the EREV model. Nonetheless, brand recognition, a lack of long-term market track record, and lingering consumer hesitations over BAIC's build quality remain hurdles to greater sales volume. When stacked against its popular estate stablemate, the Stelato S9T, the sedan body style clearly registers more modest market enthusiasm.
In summary, as the fruits of deep collaboration between Huawei and BAIC, the Stelato S9 leverages Huawei's full-stack technology suite to carve out a compelling, differentiated edge in autonomous driving, smart cockpit connectivity, and chassis dynamics. The 2025 revisions, spearheaded by a more accessible EREV entry price and kit upgrades, have significantly sharpened its value proposition. For buyers who prioritise cutting-edge digital integration, seek top-tier rear-seat indulgence, and are unbothered by the badge prestige of legacy marques, the Stelato S9 makes a strong case for itself in the RM300,000 to RM400,000 executive NEV space. Even so, cultivating genuine brand heritage and enduring buyer trust will take time.
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