Seres

What Seres does

Seres is a Sino-American electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley by John Zhang and Martin Eberhard (co-founder of Tesla), now operating as a subsidiary of Dongfeng Sokon (DFSK Group), the joint venture between Dongfeng Motor and Sokon Motor Group headquartered in Chongqing, China. The company designs, manufactures, and sells 100% electric SUVs across a mass-market tier (SERES 3, priced from €29,990 in France) and a premium tier (SERES 5, featuring in-house semi-solid-state battery technology). Its premium AITO sub-brand, co-developed with Huawei since 2021, integrates Huawei's AI, HarmonyOS smart cockpit, and assisted-driving stack; AITO grew to over 1 million cumulative users, 880,000+ active smart driving users, and 6.6 billion+ kilometers of journey data, and became China's best-selling luxury car brand domestically in 2025.

Seres monetizes primarily through hardware sales of EVs, complemented by SERES Finance (credit and LOA leasing for individuals and professionals) and bundled Wallbox home charging solutions. The go-to-market is hybrid: in France, the company operates a digital self-serve website (seres-france.fr) for configuration and lead capture, with SN Diffusion as the exclusive national distributor covering all French regions; in China, AITO is sold through dedicated dealer networks targeting premium and enterprise buyers. Supporting the sales motion are IONCHI — a premium high-power charging joint venture with BMW and Mercedes-Benz (33.3% each) announced in April 2026 — and a 5-year/100,000 km warranty. The company completed its Hong Kong IPO in November 2025, raising HK$14.283 billion (~USD 1.83B) at a HK$215 billion (~USD 27.5B) market capitalization. Notable signals include 77% YoY growth in R&D spend to RMB 12.5 billion in 2025, a 55.2% YoY reduction in AITO eCall accident rate to 0.13 per million km, and a patent-protected in-vehicle toilet system (CN224104011U) for long-journey and cabin-maximalism use cases.

Name

Seres

Legal name

SN DIFFUSION

Website

https://seres-france.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seres is a Sino-American electric vehicle manufacturer (subsidiary of Dongfeng Sokon/DFSK) that designs and sells 100% electric SUVs across mass-market (SERES 3) and premium (SERES 5, AITO) tiers, with the AITO brand co-developed with Huawei serving over 1 million users in China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Electric Vehicles

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Infotainment, Telematics & Connectivity Hardware Manufacturing (TCU/V2X/GNSS) (IMACAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

New & Used Auto Purchase Loans (FSAKADAA), EV Fleet Leasing & Subscription (EVs, Charging Bundles, Battery-as-a-Service) (TLABAHAH)

Keywords

• Electric vehicle manufacturing
• Passenger electric SUVs
• Automotive battery technology
• EV financing services
• Home EV charging solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Toulouse

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Electric Vehicle Sales: SERES generates primary revenue from the sale of 100% electric vehicles, including mass-market models (SERES 3) and premium models (SERES 5). Revenue is driven by the AITO brand under partnership with Huawei.
2. Financing Services (SERES Finance): SERES Finance offers proprietary financing solutions including traditional credit and LOA (Leasing with Option to Buy) for both individuals and professionals, with or without down payment.
3. Charging Infrastructure Products: SERES recommends and sells Wallbox home charging solutions and accessories including Pulsar Plus, Commander 2, and Copper SB chargers, ranging from 7.4kW to 22kW, through its French distribution network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Seres designs, manufactures, and sells 100% electric SUVs, primarily the mass-market SERES 3 (€29,990–€32,990 in France) and the premium SERES 5, along with the AITO premium brand co-developed with Huawei. Revenue is anchored in EV hardware sales, complemented by SERES Finance credit and LOA offerings, recommended Wallbox home-charging solutions, and a 5-year/100,000 km warranty and after-sales service program. Distribution combines an exclusive French national distributor (SN Diffusion) with a digital storefront and dedicated AITO dealer networks in China and other markets.

Product overview

Seres is a Sino-American electric vehicle manufacturer co-founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley by John Zhang and Martin Eberhard (co-founder of Tesla), and now a subsidiary of Dongfeng Sokon (DFSK Group). The company offers a portfolio of 100% electric vehicles led by the SERES 3 (entry-level SUV at €29,990-€32,990) and SERES 5 (premium SUV with semi-solid-state battery). The premium AITO brand, developed in partnership with Huawei since 2021, has become China's best-selling luxury EV brand. Supporting services include SERES Finance for vehicle financing, Wallbox charging solutions, and warranty/maintenance programs. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Chongqing, China, and maintains European operations through distributors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AITO: Premium electric vehicle brand launched in partnership with Huawei, featuring smart driving technology with over 880,000 active users and 6.6 billion kilometers in total journeys. Became China's best-selling luxury car brand domestically in 2025.
• SERES 3
• SERES 5
• SERES Finance

Products and services

• SERES 3
• SERES 5 Premium 100% electric SUV distinguished by in-house-developed semi-solid-state battery technology, representing Seres' high-end electric SUV offering. Part of the company's premium EV portfolio alongside the AITO brand.
• AITO Premium EV Brand Premium smart electric vehicle brand jointly developed with Huawei since 2021. Offers an AI-powered smart driving system with over 880,000 active users and 6.6 billion+ kilometers of total journeys, plus active assisted driving used by 97.5%+ of users. Product line spans series 5 through 9. AITO became China's best-selling luxury car brand domestically in 2025 with over 1 million cumulative users.
• SERES Finance Proprietary captive financing offering traditional credit and LOA (Lease with Option to Buy) solutions, with or without down payment. Available to both individual consumers and professionals (business fleets, professions libérales, artisans, commerçants) for the purchase of Seres vehicles in France.
• Wallbox Home & Professional Charging Solutions Recommended Wallbox EV charging systems showcased in a dedicated corner on seres-france.fr, combining intelligent charging technology with exclusive design. Range includes Pulsar Plus, Commander 2, and Copper SB chargers with power outputs from 7.4kW to 22kW, plus Power Boost dynamic load balancing, MyWallbox mobile app, and various mounting accessories. Targeted at Seres vehicle owners needing home or professional charging.
• SERES Warranty & After-Sales Service After-sales service package for Seres vehicles in France, providing a 5-year or 100,000 km warranty covering parts, labor, and the battery. Delivered by professionally trained teams at SN Diffusion authorized distributors with expertise in electric motor and battery maintenance, repair, and warranty support.

Quantifiable outcome

• AITO brand grew to over 880,000 active smart driving users with total journeys surpassing 6.6 billion kilometers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• IONCHI (BMW + Mercedes-Benz Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026IONCHI is the joint venture between BMW and Mercedes-Benz for high-power EV charging services in China. SERES Group joined as an equal shareholder through its premium brand AITO, with all three parties (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and AITO/SERES) each holding 33.3% stakes. The partnership aims to develop premium charging infrastructure in China and elevate the premium electric mobility experience. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
• HuaweicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SERES and Huawei formed a strategic partnership in 2021 to launch the AITO premium brand. The partnership leverages Huawei's AI, smart connectivity, and operating system expertise alongside SERES' EV manufacturing capabilities. AITO has grown to over 880,000 active smart driving users with total journeys surpassing 6.6 billion kilometers, and became China's best-selling luxury car brand in 2025.
• Dongfeng Sokon (DFSK Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSERES is a subsidiary of Dongfeng Sokon (DFSK Group), the alliance of Dongfeng (one of the world's largest automakers with many European and Asian partnerships) and Sokon Motor Group (one of the world's largest light utility vehicle producers). DFSK Group produces SERES vehicles with some of the most demanding quality and design standards, from its Chongqing-based manufacturing facilities.
• WallboxsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSERES France recommends and offers Wallbox home charging solutions through its showrooms. Wallbox is a worldwide company creating intelligent charging systems combining cutting-edge technology and exclusive design, with apps to manage communication between the vehicle and charger. SERES features a dedicated Wallbox corner in its showroom.
• Sokon Motor GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSokon Motor Group is one of the world's largest light utility vehicle producers, particularly known for 100% electric utility vehicles under the DFSK brand, among the best-sellers in China and Korea. Part of the DFSK Group alliance with Dongfeng that produces SERES vehicles.
• DongfengcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDongfeng is one of the world's most important automakers, having established many alliances with European and Asian manufacturers. Within the DFSK Group, Dongfeng contributes manufacturing scale and global automotive expertise to SERES vehicle production.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polestar: Premium EV manufacturer with European market focus and Volvo/Geely backing. Polestar is a direct comparable to AITO on premium positioning and to Seres's French operations on European distribution.
• XPeng: Chinese EV manufacturer with one of the strongest smart driving technology stacks among Chinese OEMs. XPeng is a direct comparable to AITO on software/ADAS capability and competes in similar mid-to-premium price bands.
• Li Auto: Chinese premium EV manufacturer focused on family/large SUVs with extended-range electric vehicles. Li Auto is a direct competitor in the Chinese premium SUV segment where AITO and SERES 5 also compete, with similar premium positioning and large-vehicle emphasis.
• NIO: Chinese premium EV manufacturer with strong software/smart driving focus and a battery-swap ecosystem. NIO is a direct competitor to AITO in the China premium EV segment and shares Seres's focus on intelligent driving and integrated energy/services offerings.
• BYD: China's largest EV manufacturer with both mass-market and premium (Denza, Yangwang, Fang Cheng Bao) offerings. BYD is the most direct competitor to Seres/AITO in China's premium EV segment and the dominant player in affordable EVs where the SERES 3 competes.
• Geely (Zeekr): Geely's premium EV brand Zeekr directly competes with AITO in the Chinese premium EV market, and Geely's broader portfolio (Geometry, Lynk & Co) parallels Seres's mass-to-premium structure. The two groups are also comparable in having an OEM parent providing manufacturing scale.

Emerging players

• Rivian: US-based premium electric SUV/truck manufacturer with strong software and adventure-brand positioning. Rivian is comparable as a premium EV-only OEM pursuing a similar product positioning (premium electric SUVs) though at earlier commercial scale and in different geographies.
• Lucid Motors: US premium EV manufacturer with industry-leading range and technology credentials. Lucid is comparable as a premium EV-only player with significant capital intensity and advanced battery technology focus, though it remains in earlier commercial stages than Seres/AITO.

Regional players

• MG Motor (SAIC): Chinese-owned (SAIC) EV brand with strong presence in the European mass-market EV segment. MG is a regional peer to Seres in France/Europe, competing in similar affordable EV price points but with deeper European dealer networks.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla: Global EV incumbent and original premium EV brand. Tesla is a broad comparable as a full-lineage EV manufacturer and is directly connected to Seres via co-founder Martin Eberhard; however, Tesla operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/seresfranceofficiel
• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/seres-france
• Instagraminstagram.com/seres_france_officiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seres