AITO Completes IONCHI Joint Venture, Launching App 3.0 and Brand Refresh

AITO has joined IONCHI, the public supercharging operator it now owns with BMW and Mercedes-Benz at 33.3% each, and the network marked the closing with a brand refresh and the launch of App 3.0. FinancialContent Business Page published the announcement on November 1, 2026.

IONCHI's Three-Way Ownership and App 3.0

IONCHI was founded in March 2024 as a 50:50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and BMW. On April 17, 2026, IONCHI announced that AITO would join, and the transaction closed on September 29 with each of the three shareholders holding a 33.3% stake.

The refresh introduced a new logo and a repositioning from a two-partner luxury joint venture to an open premium supercharging brand. IONCHI App 3.0 has a redesigned interface and now serves as the entry point to a tiered membership system with charging discounts and exclusive events, plus a loyalty rewards plan for early users. From November 1 to November 30, users can buy a membership worth RMB 6.9 for RMB 0.1, one per person, and existing users can redeem 50 points for an RMB 3 service fee coupon valid throughout November.

IONCHI's new-generation liquid-cooled supercharger delivers up to 800 kW of output and a maximum current of 800 A across a 200–1000 V voltage platform. The company says it is compatible with 99.9% of mainstream EV models on the market and adds 400 km of range in 10 minutes of charging.

Fang Shi, CEO of Beijing IONCHI New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., said: "From our founding by Mercedes-Benz and BMW to AITO's arrival, IONCHI has completed its brand upgrade from a joint venture of two luxury automakers to a three-way partnership."

Clifford Kang, Director, Board of Directors & Vice President, SERES Group, said: "AITO will work with Mercedes-Benz and BMW, through interconnected and interoperable charging infrastructure, to help make IONCHI the new benchmark for premium supercharging networks in China."

AITO's Brand and Charging Network

AITO is a brand under SERES Group, according to akta.pro company records, which state the marque was established in 2021 as a premium intelligent electric and hybrid vehicle brand. The same records describe AITO as selling premium intelligent electric and hybrid SUVs through three models, the AITO 9, 7 and 5, with regional operations in China, the UAE and Qatar.

IONCHI's network covered 40 cities in 22 provinces as of October 2026, with 619 supercharging stations and 3,404 charging points in CBDs, core commercial districts and along major urban roads. The network is open to all EV drivers, while BMW, AITO and Mercedes-Benz drivers receive charging reservations, special discounts and priority power allocation.

AITO's Earlier Launches Before the Venture

AITO opened presales for the updated M8 SUV on September 30, 2026, with prices starting at RMB 389,800, featuring Huawei's ADS 5 driver-assistance system, TechNode reported. The brand announced on October 13 that cumulative M6 deliveries surpassed 60,000 units, Gasgoo reported, after the model launched on April 22, 2026. AITO also announced at the 2026 Paris Motor Show a European market launch in autumn 2027, PR Newswire reported.

IONCHI's Station Target for 2027

By the end of 2027, IONCHI plans to have at least 1,000 supercharging stations with around 7,000 supercharging points, up from the 619 stations and 3,404 points recorded as of October 2026.