Registrations of the SERES SF5, the smart electric vehicle model that’s co-developed with ICT giant HUAWEI's HiCar Solutions, have significantly plummeted month over month in the first month of 2022.

In January, registrations of the SF5 summed up to 98 vehicles in China, five vehicles more than a year ago. However, compared to a month ago, in December 2021, registrations of the model drastically fell 93%, according to data from Gasgoo Auto Research Institute GARI). 

In January, only one city registered over ten SF5s, namely Dongguan, leading with 14 vehicle registrations. Shenzhen and Zhengzhou came in second, with 7 vehicles registered each. With 6 and 5 vehicles registered, Shanghai and Xi’an ranked fourth and sixth respectively. 

The SF5 hit the market in late April 2021. The model was a hit back then for its HUAWEI-powered intelligence system. However, merely months later, HUAWEI and SERES launched a brand-new EV brand, AITO, and its first high-end model, the AITO M5. 

SF5; photo credit: SERES

Unlike the SF5, HUAWEI was thoroughly involved in the M5’s development process. From design to distribution, HUAWEI went all-in on the new brand and the new model. The previous SF5 model displays were switched up to the shiny new M5 model in HUAWEI’s offline retail stores. 

Moreover, the SF5 model is reportedly facing discontinuation. According to SF5 owners, the offline SERES stores were all changed into AITO stores, while HUAWEI and SERES stopped receiving orders for the SF5 model. 

On December 25th 2021, SERES announced that the company would provide a lifetime warranty for firsthand SF5 owners. Under the circumstance that SF5 owners want to purchase or switch to an AITO model, they will benefit from an RMB10,000 subsidy from the company.