Aito arrived in style, and a bit of continental dust, at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. At the Aito booth of the Mondial De L’Auto (the Paris Motor Show’s classier name), an Aito 9 was displayed that traveled 15,000km from Chonqqing, China to Paris. The journey spanned 38 days, passing through 12 countries, before arriving in time for the 90th Paris Motor Show.
The convoy was composed of Aito 9, Aito 7, and Aito 5 models. The journey was a testament to the Aito vehicles’ reliability and resilience across varying road conditions and harsh environments. The Aito models in the caravan were all range-extended EV models, meaning they had a gasoline engine to power the battery in case they ran out of electricity. This was helpful in regions with unstable power grids, something we Filipinos can relate to.
A key feature that Aito highlights is its cars’ intelligent driving assistance technology. This helped maintain the drivers’ well-being during the journey by helping drive the Aitos for 8,800km of the 15,000km trip. Aito also touted its cars’ self-parking technology, something demonstrated during the intercontinental trip that caught the attention of locals.
On the journey from China to Paris, the Aitos were tested in extreme road conditions like varying temperatures, difficult terrains, challenging altitudes, and hot deserts. This kind of capability has led to 140,000 orders and 100,000 unit deliveries for the Aito 9 within nine months of its launch.
For the Aito 7, its zero gravity seats and front and rear massage seat functions made the trip easier for its passengers to combat road fatigue. The carmaker highlighted its submarine-grade stamped steel body, eight airbags, and aviation-grade thermal insulated battery for all-around safety on the road.
The ‘smallest’ of the group is the Aito 5, which seems to be somewhere between compact and midsize in category. Its full aluminum chassis with front double wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension is designed to deliver good handling. Able to reach zero to 100kph in 5 seconds, the Aito 5 offered impressive performance in the drive across Eastern Europe. The Aito 5 also has automatic parking, remote parking assistance, and tracked reverse functionalities.
The MF Platform of the Aito models can support multiple power options, from range-extended electric, to pure battery electric, to ‘Ultra Hybrid’. The range extender technology adapts to driving scenarios, giving ample electric power for city driving, and easy refueling for longer trips. Power is comparable to a 3.0-liter internal combustion engine. It can even serve as a power source for camping.
To produce vehicles this advanced, Aito relies on what it calls ‘advanced intelligent manufacturing.’ It uses a core proprietary digital platform that leverages technology to interconnect production equipment with data. In its factory, 3,000 robots work to achieve industry-leading production efficiency.
It’s no easy feat to make an entrance in the picky European market, where automotive heritage and history go back to the dawn of the previous century. But with its promising technology, sleek and elegant designs, and belief in its own products, Aito has definitely made a statement at the Paris Motor Show.
