Stelato has launched updated versions of its S9 sedan and S9T wagon, both starting at 319,800 yuan ($46,370). The Huawei and BAIC joint venture equipped both models with 896-channel image-grade LiDAR and the Qiankun ADS 4 driving system as standard, following the same playbook as Luxeed's refresh announced at the same Huawei spring event.
The update cycle here borders on absurd. The S9 was last refreshed in November 2025, four months ago. The S9T launched in September 2025, six months ago. Both are getting meaningful hardware upgrades before most owners have reached their first service interval.
⚡ BEV and EREV Options, 800V Charging
Both the S9 and S9T offer battery-electric and extended-range variants. The BEV versions run on an 800-volt platform with a 100-kWh Giant Whale battery pack supplied by Huawei, delivering over 800 km of range and 30-80% DC charging in 15 minutes. Those are strong numbers, though CLTC ratings in China typically translate to 65-70% of claimed range in real-world driving.
The EREV variants use Huawei's Xuexiao system with a 1.5-liter turbocharged range extender, offering the plug-in hybrid flexibility that a significant chunk of Chinese buyers still prefer over pure electric.
Rapid Iteration as Strategy
Stelato sits among five auto brands under Huawei's HIMA umbrella, currently selling only the S9 and S9T. With just two models, the brand can't rely on lineup breadth to stay competitive. Instead, it's using rapid iteration to keep its hardware current against a market where competitors update features quarterly.
New exterior colors in orange and purple mirror the same additions made to the Luxeed R7 and S7, suggesting a coordinated color rollout across the entire HIMA portfolio. The approach makes sense from a supply chain perspective: standardize across brands, reduce per-unit color development costs. Whether buyers notice or care about the coordination is another question entirely.