(Yicai) Aug. 10 -- Avatr Technology’s technical collaboration with Huawei Technologies is not a “necessity” for future vehicle development despite their deep partnership, according to a vice president at the Chinese maker of luxury electric cars.

“I don’t believe Avatr is dependent on this partnership, as the company has its own differentiated capabilities,” Yong Jun said at a press conference held after the Chongqing-based company launched its new 07L model on Aug. 8.

The alliance, first struck in 2019, reflects Huawei's current leadership in key automotive technologies, Yong said, adding that today's optimal arrangement does not necessarily mean the two companies will remain bound to the same cooperation model indefinitely.

Avatr, which is backed by state-owned Changan Automobile, picks the most advanced technology partners for each area of cooperation based on what the business believes its brand and products require, Yong pointed out.

The company has previously touted its relationship with Huawei as the Shenzhen-based firm’s longest-running, broadest, and deepest with any automaker. But with an expanding number of Chinese brands and models adopting Huawei's technologies, Avatr is increasingly seeking to articulate what distinguishes its own brand, its executive have said.

The 07L is a mid-to-large size pure electric five-seater sport utility vehicle, Yong said, adding that a very big team from Huawei collaborated with Avatr on the car's development, getting involved from the exterior design to the interior and even the color choices.

Yong said he hopes Huawei can build an open-access platform that provides automakers with shared services and technologies, allowing Avatr to build differentiated products on top of that foundation and highlight what makes its own brand distinctive.

“The more Huawei's technology becomes a shared resource, the more a relatively independent brand like ours can demonstrate its own brand identity and appeal in the end product,” Yong said. “So we don’t expect Huawei to customize every single detail of the product, as that would be unrealistic.”

Avatr and Huawei first linked arms under the Huawei Inside model, in which the latter provided intelligent components. Last year, they upgraded to the Huawei Inside Plus model, although this arrangement remains less deeply integrated than the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance model, in which Huawei leads the entire vehicle development process, from product design to marketing.

In August 2024, Avatr invested CNY11.5 billion (USD1.7 billion) for a 10 percent stake in Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology, a Huawei subsidiary that is working on smart driving technologies.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev