HarmonyOS Smart Mobility Gains Momentum in 2026: Shangjie Z7 and Zhijie V9 Lead the Charge. Is the "Battle of the Five Realms" a Feast or Self-Cannibalization?
As soon as the latest batch of application drawings released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology were announced, the intense competition in the automotive circle became palpable.
The new - generation Xiaomi SU7, ZEEKR 8X, Leapmotor A10, NIO ES9... While various new - energy vehicle startups are actively launching new models in the sedan and SUV markets, Hongmeng Zhixing has introduced a seemingly "unbalanced" product - the all - new MPV, the Jieshi V9.
Compared with the sedan and SUV markets, the MPV market has a relatively smaller customer base. Moreover, there are already several popular high - end MPVs on the market. How many customers can the Jieshi V9 attract?
However, if you take a long - term view, the Jieshi V9 is just one part of Hongmeng Zhixing's overall layout for this year.
Source: Official website of Hongmeng Zhixing
According to a report by 36Kr in September last year, Hongmeng Zhixing will have more than 17 models on sale this year. In addition to upgrading existing models, new products will be launched in all five sub - brands. Recently, Shangjie released a teaser image of its new coupe, the Shangjie Z7.
Obviously, this year is still a big year for Hongmeng Zhixing in terms of product launches.
However, the breadth of the product matrix does not necessarily mean strong market performance. In an increasingly saturated market, can every new model replicate the success of the Wenjie M9? This is perhaps the biggest challenge Hongmeng Zhixing faces this year.
Jieshi and Shangjie lead the way! Which one can become a hit?
Since new models are being launched in all five sub - brands, let's take a closer look at whether these new products can stand out in the market.
As early as December 9th last year, during Hongmeng Zhixing's annual live - stream event, the company officially announced the Jieshi V9.
Hongmeng Zhixing's entry into the MPV market is not surprising. After all, Hongmeng Zhixing is a "smart - car technology ecosystem alliance" that aims to use technology to cover all market segments. Although the MPV market is not large, it is an essential part of the product matrix.
Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
According to information from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Jieshi V9 is a large - sized MPV with a length of over 5.3 meters and a wheelbase of over 3.2 meters. It is powered by Chery's own 1.5T range extender, but the details of the electric - motor drive system are still unknown.
The official article "One - picture understanding of the highlights of Jieshi V9's debut! See you in spring" revealed three highlights of the Jieshi V9:
Spacious interior. The cabin space far exceeds that of its peers.
Strong active and passive safety capabilities. It features a robust body, a greater number of airbags than its peers, and Huawei's Kunpeng intelligent driving system's new - generation auxiliary - driving hardware.
Impressive range. The Jieshi V9 with a 53 - kWh battery has a maximum CLTC comprehensive range of up to 1,250 kilometers.
It seems that the Jieshi V9 has all the basic features of a high - end MPV and a Hongmeng Zhixing product. However, to be honest, we haven't noticed any significant differentiating advantages that could highlight its competitiveness.
Interestingly, after Yu Chengdong announced that the Jieshi V9 would be launched in spring, Zhao Changjiang, the former general manager of Denza's sales department, directly reposted the news. He even said that "the industry needs to raise the ceiling of imagination" and left a bold prediction in the comment section that "it will have no competitors for at least three years."
Screenshot: Weibo @Zhao ChangjiangV
If so, we have high expectations for the Jieshi V9.
After all, Zhao Changjiang was the "leader" of Denza. The Denza D9 successfully opened up the high - end new - energy MPV market, achieving monthly sales of over 10,000 units and maintaining a leading position in the segment. His confidence in the Jieshi V9 is surely based on its existing capabilities. However, there are still two questions: Can the Jieshi V9 really live up to such high expectations, and can competitors not replicate its core advantages in three years?
We believe the answers will be revealed soon.
During Hongmeng Zhixing's annual live - stream in December last year, it was announced that Shangjie would launch two new models this year. One of them, a high - end coupe to be launched in the first quarter, is presumably the Shangjie Z7.
What has really caught people's attention is the slogan "More anticipated than the new generation" on the Shangjie Z7's teaser poster.
Source: Shangjie Automobile
Considering the timing, this is not just an ordinary slogan. On January 7th, Xiaomi's new - generation SU7 started pre - orders, and on the same day, Shangjie Z7 made a statement with a slogan directly referring to the "new generation." This is clearly not a coincidence but a direct challenge to the Xiaomi SU7. It seems that as soon as the Shangjie Z7 is launched, it will compete head - on with the new - generation Xiaomi SU7.
Based on other models in the same family, it's not hard to guess the selling points of the Shangjie Z7: Huawei's Kunpeng intelligent driving system and Hongmeng cockpit will surely be included. However, if it is really a competitor to the Xiaomi SU7, it needs to perform better in terms of handling, performance, and range.
It should be noted that there is a controversy about the similar body shapes of the Shangjie Z7, Xiaomi SU7, and Porsche Taycan. In our view, in the automotive industry, there are often certain similarities and borrowings in exterior design. Whether a car can be successful depends on its internal technology and overall performance. If the Shangjie Z7 can demonstrate unique advantages in core technologies, it still has a chance to gain a foothold in the market.
The other three sub - brands continue to target the high - end market!
Regarding Wenjie, Xiangjie, and Zunjie, the current information about new models mainly comes from spy photos and statements by executives. Although the information is limited, we can still glimpse Hongmeng Zhixing's plans and ambitions for these new models.
Wenjie is the sales pillar of Hongmeng Zhixing. In addition to upgrading the four existing models, it is also expected to launch a long - wheelbase version of the Wenjie M9 and the Wenjie M6 to expand the price range.
The long - wheelbase version of the Wenjie M9 is unlikely to be the main sales driver for Wenjie. After all, a long - wheelbase version is not just about increasing the wheelbase; the interior configuration is also more luxurious. Such products are usually targeted at the high - end market with a relatively narrow customer base, mainly serving to enhance the brand image and attract customers who pursue the ultimate experience.
The more important new product for Wenjie should be the Wenjie M6. Although there is limited information about the Wenjie M6, we can infer that it is positioned between the Wenjie M5 and Wenjie M7, aiming to fill the gap in the 250,000 - yuan family - SUV market. This is a large existing market and the stronghold of competitors like the Li L6. The competitors of the Wenjie M6 are obvious.
Source: Photo taken by Dianchetong
In 2025, Xiangjie boldly launched the Xiangjie S9 extended - range version and the Xiangjie S9T, which further enriched its product line and significantly boosted its sales.
For 2026, Zhang Jianyong, the chairman of BAIC Group, said that original new models such as SUVs and MPVs will be launched. However, there is currently no information about these new models. During a previous live - stream event, the host gestured a "box - shaped" vehicle, which might imply that Xiangjie will enter the box - shaped vehicle market.
If so, with Huawei's technological advantages, Xiangjie really has a chance to develop a differentiated path in this niche market.
Source: Photo taken by Dianchetong
The Zunjie S800 started deliveries in late June last year and sold 11,300 units in half a year. For a domestic sedan with a starting price as high as 708,000 yuan, this is not only a sales figure but also a high - level recognition of its "Chinese - style luxury" by the market.
Since the sedan has been successful, the next step is naturally to target more niche high - end markets. At the annual live - stream event, Xiang Xingchu, the chairman of Jianghuai Automobile Group, revealed that Zunjie will launch more high - end MPVs and SUVs. Although there are no spy photos yet, we have reason to believe that these two new models will be as luxurious as the Zunjie S800.
It has to be admitted that Hongmeng Zhixing's product layout in 2026 is very ambitious. With the intensive launch of more than a dozen new models such as the Jieshi V9, Shangjie Z7, and Wenjie M6, it aims to expand its market share by building a comprehensive product portfolio.
Source: Photo taken by Dianchetong
Hongmeng Zhixing has maintained a "big - product - year" rhythm for two consecutive years, focusing on elements such as "high - end" and "technological luxury." With the increasing penetration rate of new - energy vehicles, it has shown strong market - growth momentum. So far, Hongmeng Zhixing has formed a sub - brand pattern of "Wenjie stabilizes the foundation, Jieshi expands the boundaries, Xiangjie differentiates, Zunjie raises the bar, and Shangjie provides affordability." Its cumulative sales last year reached 589,107 units, a year - on - year increase of 32%.
However, in the automotive industry, popularity does not guarantee sales. The progress of competitors is obvious, and consumers' demands are becoming more and more demanding. Moreover, with more models, additional challenges will arise.
Internal competition and external challenges are the only two concerns for Hongmeng Zhixing
Huawei's Kunpeng technology and Hongmeng cockpit are at the leading level. However, buying a car is a comprehensive decision. In the high - end new - energy market that Hongmeng Zhixing targets, in addition to technology and luxury, consumers also consider factors such as vehicle reliability, cost - effectiveness, and after - sales service. Traditional automakers and other new - energy startups also have deep experience and unique advantages in these aspects. It's not easy for Hongmeng Zhixing to make every model a best - seller.
Looking at the market performance in 2025, Hongmeng Zhixing's sales mainly relied on the Wenjie M8, M9, and M7. The market contribution of other models was relatively limited.
Especially for the Shangjie H5 in the under - 200,000 - yuan market segment, its sales exceeded 10,000 units in November but dropped to less than 7,000 units in December, far from the expected pre - order volume of over 150,000 units. Moreover, its sales did not show a continuous upward trend.
The reasons for the poor sales performance of the Shangjie H5 are complex. Externally, it is squeezed by the high - end Wenjie series above and surrounded by high - value SUVs from brands like Leapmotor and Galaxy below, leaving it with very limited living space. Internally, as a new brand, Shangjie has not yet established a stable user recognition.
Source: Photo taken by Dianchetong
This situation is similar to the early difficulties of Jieshi. Fortunately, Jieshi reversed the situation through the upgraded R7. Zunjie, in the high - end market with fewer competitors, and with Hongmeng Zhixing's strength in the high - end segment, has achieved good results with the Zunjie S800.
The sharp contrast between "hot in some models and cold in others" serves as a reminder to Hongmeng Zhixing: Expansion should focus on quality as well as speed. While launching more than a dozen new models, it is necessary to clearly differentiate them in terms of pricing, usage scenarios, and target customers, so that Wenjie, Jieshi, Xiangjie, Zunjie, and Shangjie can play their respective roles and complement each other, rather than competing internally.