Huawei and Sailis recently announced an adjustment in their cooperation mode, with Sailis taking the lead in product definition, marketing, channels, and services, while Huawei stepping back into a role of technical empowerment. At the same time, the founder of the company, Ren Zhengfei’s whereabouts have become a mystery, and Huawei is facing criminal charges in New York, leading to speculations that this “split” may be related to external judicial pressures.
On September 15, Wenjie and Hongmeng Intelligent Travel jointly released a statement confirming that Wenjie remains a member of the Hongmeng Intelligent Travel system and will explore new cooperation modes within the framework of collaboration.
According to the statement, in the future, Sailis will be in charge of Wenjie’s product definition, product design, brand marketing, channel retail, and service systems, while Huawei’s role will be to continue to empower. Both parties have stated that Wenjie users’ rights and subsequent services will not be affected.
According to Southern Metropolis Daily, an informant stated that the rumors of “Wenjie withdrawing from Hongmeng Intelligent Travel and Huawei offline stores” are a misinterpretation of channel adjustments, and the actual direction is to promote Wenjie’s “exclusive operation”.
A letter addressed to all channel partners by Wenjie previously confirmed that starting from September 16, the signing entity of the “Authorized Distributor Integrated Service Cooperation Agreement” will be changed from Huawei Terminal Co., Ltd. to an affiliated company of Sailis Automotive Co., Ltd. Orders placed before September 16 will be managed by Huawei, while orders after that date will be the responsibility of Sailis.
Every economic news quoted several store sales personnel who revealed that from September 15 to the end of this year, stores will have to choose between “exclusive Wenjie sales” and “mix-selling other Four Realms models,” a so-called “either-or” situation.
Reportedly, starting from January 1, 2027, Huawei’s exclusive stores will be officially divided into two categories: one exclusively selling Wenjie, and the other selling other brands such as Zhi Realm, Xiang Realm, Jun Realm, and Shang Realm, marking the beginning of a transition period in channel adjustments.
Kang Bo, director and vice president of Sailis Group, stated that the “exclusive upgrade and special operations management” for Wenjie is a significant adjustment within the framework of cooperation, emphasizing that the new cooperation mode will not affect existing rights and future services. Wenjie will continue to receive technical, product, and supply guarantees from Huawei.
Secretary-General Cui Dongshu of the China Automobile Dealers Association Ride Association Branch told Every Economic News that this adjustment may have short-term disadvantages, as it could pressure brand exposure and channel acquisition capabilities, leading to a potential decline in sales. However, in the long term, it may help Sailis establish independent operational capabilities.
Nevertheless, Sailis is facing significant immediate pressures.
According to financial reports, in the first half of this year, Sailis’ revenue decreased by 7.87% to 57.493 billion yuan, with a net loss attributable to shareholders of 1.717 billion yuan, a shift from profit to loss year-on-year. In the first eight months of this year, Wenjie’s car sales were 201,900 units, a decrease of 14.07% compared to the previous period.
After Sailis reported a loss in its interim report in August, the cooperation mode between Huawei and Sailis has drawn extensive market attention. Now, the cooperation model between the two has changed.
Following the news of the channel adjustments, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei’s whereabouts have raised external concerns.
Since rumors began circulating on September 11 about Ren Zhengfei leaving with his family, Huawei, known for promptly responding to such rumors, remained silent for a week. This silence has been deemed “extremely unusual” compared to Huawei’s past rapid response to rumors.
On September 14, Ren Zhengfei’s daughter, Yao Anna, publicly appeared at an event in Beijing, and was later spotted in Kaili, Guizhou. However, Ren Zhengfei himself and his eldest daughter, Meng Wanzhou, did not make any public appearances.
Almost simultaneously, Huawei’s criminal case in New York, which officially began on September 9, has sparked public attention. The prosecution cited the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), accusing Huawei of being a “criminal enterprise” and presenting evidence related to the theft of trade secrets in court. Analysts speculate that the channel adjustments at Wenjie and the judicial and public relations pressures faced by Huawei in the U.S. may be related, but these claims lack official confirmation.