Aiva ME7, first model from Seres-CATL venture, appears in Chinese approval filings
The ME7, the first model from Aiva, the joint brand of Seres and CATL, has appeared in the latest product catalog of China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The electric SUV will offer single- and dual-motor options with up to 420 kW of power.
Aiva, the brand born from a partnership between Chinese automaker Seres and CATL, one of the world's largest battery makers, has taken a key step showing its first model is nearing series production. The all-electric Aiva ME7 SUV has officially appeared in the latest product catalog published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). In China, appearing in this catalog is considered part of the approval process a model must clear before going on sale.
The ME7 from Aiva, known in China as Saidou, comes with five-seat seating. According to the filings, all versions will share the same exterior dimensions and a high top speed.
Single- and dual-motor options
The Aiva ME7 is powered by ternary (NMC-type) lithium-ion batteries made by CATL. The single-motor version uses a rear-mounted electric motor supplied by Chongqing Qingshan Industrial. That motor produces a maximum of 270 kW, or about 362 horsepower.
In the all-wheel-drive dual-motor version, the rear motor stays the same while a second, 150 kW (201 hp) motor made by Chongqing Jinkang Powertrain New Energy is added up front. That brings the version's combined output to 420 kW, or about 563 horsepower.
Optional equipment will include red brake calipers, a black roof, different wheel designs, a tow hitch and an ETC electronic toll device used on Chinese highways. All vehicles also come standard with an event data recorder (EDR).
A factory within a factory
The two companies' cooperation goes beyond the new brand. In June 2025, CATL brought two production lines for high-end CTP 2.0 battery packs online at a Seres plant. These lines allow batteries for flagship models such as the Aito M9 and M8 to be produced on site and fed directly to assembly.
About a week ago, Seres and CATL signed a new agreement to accelerate the second phase of the "factory within a factory" project. The second phase is planned to have an annual capacity of 10 to 12 GWh. Once it is completed, the combined annual capacity of the two phases will exceed 20 GWh.
This article was compiled with the help of AI from information published by CarNewsChina.
