SERES Group President Zhang Zhengping at Asian Financial Forum: AITO’s “Intelligence Redefining Luxury” Reshapes Market Dynamics

The 19th Asian Financial Forum was held in Hong Kong on January 26-27, focusing on “Multilateral Cooperation in a Changing World, Shared Success in a New Era.” For the first time, the forum featured a Global Business Summit spotlighting the integration of finance and the real economy. Zhang Zhengping, President of SERES Group, was invited to share his insights and practices in high-end, intelligent, and global business development. Zhang emphasized that intelligence will be the core track for the auto industry over the next decade, and that high-end, intelligent capabilities will be the competitive differentiators for Chinese brands on the global stage.

Building Differentiation Through High-End, Intelligent Innovation

Zhang said China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry has achieved a “dual leap” in both quality and quantity over the past five years. Domestic market penetration has risen from 5% to over 50%, and by 2025, more than 60% of global NEV sales are expected to come from China. He noted that Chinese automakers have established first-mover advantages in batteries, motors, and electronic controls, and that industry competition is now shifting from electrification to intelligence and high-end segments.

“High-end and intelligent features have become the differentiators for Chinese NEV brands,” Zhang said. “SERES began investing in intelligent R&D a decade ago. We focus not only on deploying technology, but also on delivering an exceptional user experience.” Five years ago, SERES partnered with Huawei to launch the AITO brand, directly addressing the market pain point that “intelligent cars were not luxurious and luxury cars were not intelligent.” With the brand philosophy “Intelligence Redefining Luxury,” AITO’s one-millionth vehicle rolled off the production line in just 46 months, reshaping China’s luxury car market.

To date, AITO users have logged more than 5 billion kilometers using intelligent assisted driving technology. During holidays, usage rates surpass 40%. The AITO M9 has consistently topped sales in China’s luxury segment above 500,000 yuan, demonstrating the strong competitiveness of Chinese NEV brands in the high-end market.

Advancing Globalization Through “Deep Localization”

Addressing geopolitical and compliance challenges, Zhang said globalization is not simply about copying the domestic model overseas. Instead, success lies in finding the best fit among market, cultural, and regulatory differences.

SERES is committed to long-termism in its globalization journey, advancing a “deep localization” strategy. This includes localizing product design, building comprehensive service networks, closely collaborating with global partners, and prioritizing local talent strategies to truly take root in new markets. “Through ongoing brand-building, we are establishing a high-end brand image and providing all global users with equally high standards for products and services,” Zhang said.

On supply chain and capital empowerment, Zhang noted that the development of intelligent electric vehicles depends on coordinated innovation across the entire value chain. SERES works closely with top global supply chain partners to build a high-end industrial chain. The company’s dual listings on mainland China and Hong Kong’s stock markets have broadened its financing channels. This approach has also created a strategic platform to connect global resources and serve customers worldwide, supporting the coordinated development of a global ecosystem.

AI and Technological Innovation to Meet Evolving User Needs

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are transforming the auto industry. Zhang noted that technology must ultimately serve people, and AI is driving the evolution of cars from mere transportation tools to “mobile intelligent agents.”

“For SERES, AI is not an option, but a necessity,” Zhang said. The company is fully committed to industrializing “AI+” and exploring new fields such as embodied intelligence, delivering smarter and more emotionally engaging products to users.

Zhang concluded, “At SERES, our core mission is to serve our customers wholeheartedly. We follow a technology roadmap where software defines the vehicle, and we shape our products based on user needs. We listen to our customers and uphold rigorous quality standards, so our vehicles truly reflect user needs at every stage—from design to delivery.”