China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is rapidly expanding, with luxury brands competing fiercely for market share. In this high-stakes environment, collaboration and innovation are key to success. Recently, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have joined forces with SERES Group’s AITO brand to form a premium EV charging joint venture, IONCHI, in China. This strategic partnership signals a significant shift in the country’s EV charging landscape, where German and Chinese automakers are now directly collaborating on premium infrastructure rather than competing on separate networks.
Partnership Dynamics: AITO Joins BMW and Mercedes-Benz in IONCHI
The joint venture, IONCHI, was originally formed by BMW and Mercedes-Benz in late 2023 as a 50:50 partnership between Mercedes-Benz Group China and BMW Brilliance Automotive. The goal was ambitious: build at least 1,000 high-power charging stations with approximately 7,000 charging points across 100 Chinese cities by the end of 2026. Progress has been steady, but faces a significant ramp. By December 2025, IONCHI had connected around 430 fast-charging stations with 2,408 charging points across 37 cities.
This means the network needs to more than double its station count and nearly triple its charging points in 2026 to hit the original target — a pace that likely motivated bringing SERES into the fold. With AITO’s involvement, the partnership now becomes a three-way collaboration, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and SERES each holding a 33.3% stake in IONCHI.
AITO’s Contribution to the Partnership
SERES is far from a minor player in China’s EV market. The company reported record revenue of RMB 165.05 billion (~$22.7 billion) in 2025, with net profit reaching RMB 5.96 billion (~$820 million). Its AITO brand, developed in deep partnership with Huawei, delivered over 420,000 vehicles last year — making it the best-selling Chinese luxury car brand in the domestic market.
AITO’s lineup spans multiple price segments, with the AITO M9 delivering over 110,000 units in 2025, ranking first in its segment for two consecutive years. The AITO M8 exceeded 150,000 deliveries, holding the top position in the RMB 400,000+ segment since launch. The Huawei connection is critical, as AITO is one of five brands under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). Huawei supplies the intelligent driving systems, cockpit technology, and software platform that differentiate AITO vehicles in an increasingly crowded Chinese EV market.
Benefits of the Partnership
Under the new structure, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and SERES each hold a 33.3% stake in IONCHI. The charging network uses 100% renewable energy and is positioned at prime urban locations. While the stations are open to all eligible EVs, customers of BMW, AITO, and Mercedes-Benz get exclusive perks, including online reservation and priority power allocation. This tiered access model creates a premium charging experience that complements their premium vehicle pricing.
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approval, which is standard for joint ventures in China. The bigger picture in China’s charging race is that luxury EV buyers will pay a premium for a reliable, reservable, high-power charging experience over the often chaotic public charging landscape in Chinese cities.
The Bigger Picture: China’s EV Charging Infrastructure
China’s EV charging infrastructure has grown explosively, reaching over 21 million charging points by February 2026 — a 47.8% increase year-over-year. Public charging alone hit 4.83 million units, up 28.8%. The country’s three-year plan targets 28 million charging facilities by the end of 2027. But premium, branded charging networks remain a distinct segment within that massive buildout.
IONCHI is betting that luxury EV buyers — whether they drive a BMW iX3, a Mercedes-Benz EQS, or an AITO M9 — will pay a premium for a reliable, reservable, high-power charging experience over the often chaotic public charging landscape in Chinese cities. Adding AITO to the partnership makes strategic sense for all three parties. BMW and Mercedes-Benz gain a high-volume Chinese partner that can drive utilization rates and help fund the aggressive 2026 rollout target.
SERES gains branded infrastructure that elevates AITO’s premium positioning and gives its rapidly growing customer base a tangible ownership benefit. This partnership signals a significant shift in China’s EV charging landscape, where German and Chinese automakers are now directly collaborating on premium infrastructure rather than competing on separate networks.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
One of the key challenges facing IONCHI is the need to more than double its station count and nearly triple its charging points in 2026 to hit the original target. This requires significant investment and coordination between the three partners. However, the opportunities are vast, with a growing demand for premium charging experiences in China’s EV market.
For consumers, the benefits of this partnership are clear. A reliable, reservable, high-power charging experience is a key differentiator for luxury EV buyers. By partnering with AITO, BMW and Mercedes-Benz can offer their customers a premium charging experience that complements their premium vehicle pricing.
Conclusion
The partnership between BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and AITO marks a significant shift in China’s EV charging landscape. By collaborating on premium infrastructure, the three partners can offer luxury EV buyers a reliable, reservable, high-power charging experience that complements their premium vehicle pricing. With a growing demand for premium charging experiences in China’s EV market, this partnership is poised to succeed.
