The Dongfeng-Huawei joint brand Epicland will launch its debut model, the extended-range Epicland X9 SUV, on September 24, 2026 — starting at 299,800 yuan (~$44,400) and already carrying more than 20,000 pre-orders taken in the first 24 hours of pre-sales.
The Huawei ADS 5 Stack, Standard On Every Trim
The X9 ships with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 5 assisted-driving system across every variant, wired to dual optical-path imaging LiDAR and three solid-state LiDAR units. That is a deliberately aggressive sensor bill of materials for the segment: no Epicland X9 leaves the plant without the full LiDAR-plus-ADS 5 stack, undercutting the segment convention of gating advanced driver-assistance behind a top trim.
Range, Turning Circle, And The Three-Row Body
The X9 is a 5,301 mm-long, 2,015 mm-wide, 1,820 mm-tall 6-seater with rear-wheel steering that pivots up to 14 degrees, tightening the turning radius to 5.3 meters — competitive with sedans two size classes smaller. Powertrain-wise it is a range extender: a 74 kWh battery provides up to 465 km of electric-only range, and total range exceeds 1,500 km with the on-board engine as a generator.
Pre-Orders Book 20,000 Units In 24 Hours
Pre-sales opened August 18, 2026 and the X9 booked more than 20,000 orders in the first 24 hours. Exclusive pre-sale benefits — lifetime vehicle and battery warranties, plus production and delivery priority — expire on September 24. That is a rare demand signal for a first-generation model from a brand that did not exist a year ago, and it puts Epicland into direct competition with Aito's M9, Li Auto's L9 and the Denza N9.
The Dongfeng-Huawei Playbook
Epicland is Dongfeng's answer to the Aito-style brand collaborations Huawei has already stood up with Seres, Chery, BAIC and JAC through its HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) program. Dongfeng, whose parent company is also standing up its own humanoid and quadruped robot lines, is now using Epicland to route its higher-priced SUVs through Huawei's smart-cockpit and ADS distribution muscle. The launch also lands the same week as Volkswagen's LiDAR-equipped ID.AURA T6, giving Chinese buyers three fresh LiDAR SUVs to compare in a single weekend.
Reporting based on coverage from CnEVPost.