Huawei and SAIC launch pre-sales for the Z7 and Z7T Porsche look-alikes

23 March 2026

Huawei and the automaker SAIC have officially opened pre-sales for their latest joint project: the Saic Z7 and the Z7T. These EVs are part of the HIMA network, which is Huawei's way of selling cars through its own stores. Saic is a brand name created by these two giants, and it is trying to make a name for itself alongside the established players.

The Saic Z7 is a sleek sedan-coupe, and the Z7T is a "shooting brake" - a sporty station wagon. If these electric cars look familiar, that is because their design takes a lot of inspiration from the Porsche Taycan. Both models are quite large, measuring 198.3 inches long and 77.8 inches wide. They sit on a 118 inches wheelbase, promising plenty of room inside for passengers to stretch out.

Technically, these two EVs are siblings. They share the same bones and the same power. The basic version comes with a single motor in the rear that produces 264 kW, or about 354 horsepower. If you want more speed, there is a dual-motor version with all-wheel drive. This more powerful setup pumps out 434 kW, which equals 582 horsepower. The Z7 sedan is especially quick, reaching 62 mph in 3.44 seconds.

One of the biggest selling points for these two EVs is how far they can go on a single charge. Buyers can choose between two battery sizes: 81 kWh or 100 kWh. According to Chinese testing standards, these cars can travel up to 562 miles before needing to plug in again, but the real-world driving range will be quite a bit lower. To help with the ride, both cars come with an active suspension system that adjusts to the road.

Inside the cabin, things look very modern. There is a giant floating screen in the middle of the dashboard and a thin display for the driver. There is even a head-up display that projects info onto the windshield. The passenger seat is a "zero-gravity" design, meant to make you feel like you are floating. You can choose from five different interior colors: red, purple, beige, black, or bright yellow. The Z7T shooting brake is the more practical choice, offering 59.8 ft³ of trunk space when the seats are down, compared to 55.9 ft³ in the sedan.

Huawei's influence is most obvious in technology. Both EVs use the Huawei ADS 4.1 system for assisted driving. This system uses a special sensor called LiDAR that has 896 lines. This high-tech "eye" is very sharp. It can spot a small object only 14 cm tall from 400 ft away, even in the middle of the night. This helps the car navigate safely without the driver having to do all the work.

The Saic Z7 sedan starts at RMB 228,800, which is about £24,184. The Z7T shooting brake costs a little more, starting at RMB 239,800, or roughly £25,350. People who put their money down early for a pre-order get a small discount and benefits worth about RMB 11,000 (£1,200). This pricing makes them more expensive than the brand's first model, the H5 crossover, but they offer much more performance.

The older H5 crossover has sold about 33,222 units since it launched in late 2025. That is a decent start, but it isn't a huge number in a country as big as China. By offering faster, more stylish, and more tech-heavy electric cars like the Z7 and Z7T, Huawei and SAIC hope to grab a bigger slice of the growing market for high-end EVs.

Via