Aito, a new-energy vehicle (NEV) brand under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), has rejected rumours in China that its cars are “pre-made,” with future dates stamped on their VIN plates. The brand has also filed a police report and has not ruled out further legal action.

Claims that Aito is building “time-travelling ” and “future” cars have gained popularity on Chinese social platforms, with posts sharing images of a VIN plate from an Aito M6 with a future manufacturing date of “October 2026“.

Aito’s statement

In an article posted on Aito’s official fact-checking WeChat account, the brand asserts that all the rumours surrounding its “temporally displaced” cars were without factual basis. It claims the original VIN plate was from an Aito M6 manufactured in July 2026, and that the viral images were doctored with Photoshop or “AI”.

The brand also included an image it claims is the original VIN plate in its article. The image, as well as the “futuristic” VIN plate, show identical model codes, chassis numbers, engine codes, and specifications, with the only discrepancies being lighting, camera angle, and the manufacturing date.

Aito concludes its article by saying it has gathered evidence and filed a police report, while reiterating its legal right to seek justice against those who spread rumours about its cars.

Background

The M6 is a mid-size luxury NEV SUV that currently serves as an entry-level model in Aito’s lineup. EV trims offer up to 760 km of CLTC range (616 km WLTP), while EREV variants offer a maximum EV CLTC range of 355 km (288 km WLTP).

As a member of the HIMA family, it’s equipped with Huawei’s Harmony OS intelligent cabin system and features the tech giant’s LiDAR-equipped “Qiankun” assisted-driving system. It currently retails for 229,800 – 299,800 yuan (34,200 – 44,700 USD) in China.

Chassis-wise, it features front dual wishbone and rear five-bar multi-link suspension, and is equipped with single-chamber air suspension with adjustable damping. Its dimensions are 4,960/1,985/1,736 mm, with a 2,950 mm wheelbase.

Rumours surrounding the M6 likely emerged as the model experienced a significant sales slump in China. China EV DataTracker shows the SUV delivered only 5,428 units in July 2026, down almost three-fold from a peak of 18,148 in May of the same year.

The incident also coincides with a backlash towards pre-made frozen factory meals in China, with the accused social media posts referring to the M6 as a “yu zhi che” (pre-made car), a spin on the Chinese phrase for pre-made meals (yu zhi cai).

Source: WeChat – Aito Facts Agency

Source: CarNewsChina (View original)