"Becomes 'Outdated Model' Before Delivery" - Problema M7 Caught in Configuration Upgrade Controversy

On March 25, multiple owners of the 2026 model of the Wenjie M7 told Beijing Business Today that the sudden announcement of the 896-line dual-laser radar (hereinafter referred to as “896-line dual-laser radar”) being downgraded to the M7 model has caused some owners to feel like their cars are now “old models” before even taking delivery. Owners questioned whether the official was deliberately hiding upgrade plans, and the fact that M9 can be paid to upgrade while M7 does not support this has further fueled their dissatisfaction.

This is not an isolated case. Currently, new energy vehicle companies are rapidly iterating software and hardware in fierce intelligent driving competitions, but they generally lack public notification mechanisms for configuration changes and protections for existing users. Lawyers pointed out that if sellers knowingly conceal major updates or make false promises about them, it could constitute fraud and violate consumers’ right to information. They suggest establishing a “public notice period” or “cooling-off period” for significant core configuration changes to protect short-term car buyers’ right to know and choose.

Unable to upgrade the radar

“Less than a week after ordering, I haven’t even taken delivery, and Huawei HarmonyOS’s ‘backstabbed’ me,” said Zhang Xin, owner of the 2026 Wenjie M7. He paid a deposit on March 17 and was told he could pick up the car in 2-4 weeks. “When I bought the car, I specifically asked whether the 896-line dual-laser radar would be equipped on the M7, and the salesperson clearly told me it would not.”

After confirming that the M7 would not have a radar upgrade in the short term, Zhang Xin decided to purchase the 2026 M7. However, less than a week after buying the car, he learned at Huawei’s spring full-scenario new product launch that the 896-line dual-laser radar would be standard and downgraded across the board, including on the M7.

On March 4, Huawei announced the 896-line dual-laser radar, which was first equipped on flagship models like the HarmonyOS-based Zunjie S800 and Wenjie M9. At the March 23 Huawei spring full-scenario new product launch, the company officially announced updates to the Wenjie M7 and M8, adding the 896-line dual-laser radar. The optional upgrade for the M7 costs an extra 10,000 yuan. What disappointed Zhang Xin further was that Huawei HarmonyOS’s official statement said owners who already purchased the M7 cannot upgrade to the 896-line radar for a fee, nor has any compensation been offered. “I haven’t even taken delivery, and I can’t change it because the production has already been scheduled,” Zhang Xin said.

Huawei HarmonyOS sales staff explained that for the 2026 M7 models scheduled before March 23, all versions come with a 192-line laser radar. After March 23, new buyers can choose the 896-line dual-laser radar. Official information shows that the 896-line dual-laser radar is currently the highest production line count in the world for automotive laser radars, with perception capabilities moving from traditional “point cloud level” to “image level,” with four times the resolution of the 192-line product.

The huge gap between the radars has caused almost all existing M7 owners to question. Wang Di, a representative owner of the M7, told Beijing Business Today that owners wrote a joint letter to Huawei HarmonyOS officials, stating that most had placed orders by September 2025 but due to capacity issues, only received their cars in January 2026. During this period, owners repeatedly asked whether there would be configuration upgrades or redesign plans in the short term, but the responses were always “no short-term redesign plans; 192-line laser radar is sufficient for daily driving and is the current mainstream top configuration.”

Wang Di and other owners believe that the lack of prior disclosure of redesign plans suggests information concealment, which directly led to the situation where M7 owners could only passively accept “delayed delivery and outdated features.”

Different treatment of models within the same brand

The official differential treatment of models within the same brand is another reason for owner dissatisfaction. Wang Di told Beijing Business Today that both the M9 and S800 are promised to be upgradeable to the 896-line dual-laser radar for a fee, but the M7 and M8 are not supported. Moreover, the lower-priced new model M6 is already fully equipped with the 896-line dual-laser radar as standard, with no extra cost.

“We can’t understand why, with Huawei intelligent driving support and under the Wenjie brand, some models can enjoy ‘constant upgrades,’ while the M7 cannot,” Wang Di said. Regarding owners’ doubts and how to protect M7 owners’ rights in the future, Beijing Business Today sent interview requests to HarmonyOS and Seres Group but received no response as of press time.

Wenjie official customer service told Beijing Business Today that currently only the M9 supports upgrading to the 896-line dual-laser radar, and there is no information on other models.

At HarmonyOS offline stores, Beijing Business Today saw that models equipped with the 896-line dual-laser radar have not yet arrived. Sales staff explained that upgrading to the 896-line radar requires hardware replacement, which is theoretically feasible but involves a reporting process, and whether it can be implemented on models like the M7 remains uncertain.

An automotive industry engineer told Beijing Business Today that upgrading from 192 lines to 896 lines involves incompatible computing power, interfaces, and algorithms, usually requiring a simultaneous upgrade of the intelligent driving domain controller, not just replacing the radar.

Wang Di and other owners hope the official will clarify the concealment of redesign plans within seven working days, explain the reasons for different treatment within the same brand, and clearly state whether hardware paid upgrades will be available for the 2026 M7. If upgrades are not possible, they want the official to introduce practical compensation policies.

The 2026 Wenjie M7 was officially launched at the Chengdu International Auto Show on September 23, 2025, offering extended-range and pure electric versions, with a starting price of 279,800 yuan. As of February 2026, cumulative deliveries exceeded 100,000 units.

Infringement of consumers’ right to information

The official announcement of the 896-line dual-laser radar was an important move for Wenjie to strengthen its intelligent driving advantage and respond to market competition. However, some owners who had just taken delivery or had not yet received their cars felt that the brand launched major configuration upgrades without considering the rights of existing owners, sparking public opinion and challenging Wenjie’s reputation. On March 24, Wenjie’s parent company Seres Group’s stock price fell by over 5%; on March 25, the stock continued to decline, with market value under pressure.

If sales staff explicitly told consumers before purchase that the 896-line dual-laser radar would not be equipped on the M7, this would constitute false advertising about future configurations, misleading consumers’ purchasing decisions, and potentially amounting to consumer fraud and infringement of the right to information, said Sun Yuhao, senior partner at Shanghai Haihua Yongtai Law Firm.

According to Article 8 of the “Consumer Rights Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China” and Article 9 of its implementing regulations, consumers have the right to know the true conditions of the goods they purchase and use. Operators are prohibited from false or misleading publicity.

Sun Yuhao further pointed out that if a seller refuses to provide fair upgrade channels or compensation to owners who purchase shortly after a new configuration is announced, it results in unfair transactions caused by information asymmetry, infringing on consumers’ right to fair trade and autonomous choice.

Wang Jiankun, senior partner at Shanghai Hushishi Law Firm, said generally automakers are not legally obligated to provide hardware upgrade channels unless explicitly stipulated in the purchase contract. Hardware iterations are a matter of business decision. However, if it can be proven that the seller knew of imminent major redesigns but deliberately concealed them and made false promises, it could constitute fraud, and owners have the right to rescind the contract and claim damages.

Wang Jiankun recommends that relevant authorities establish a “public notice period” or “cooling-off period” for major core configuration changes to protect short-term buyers’ rights to information and choice. Consumers should consider including key commitments like “no redesign in the short term” in their contracts or keep written evidence, and rationally assess the risks of technological iteration in new energy vehicles.

He also suggested exploring mechanisms to protect the rights of existing owners to balance innovation speed and consumer fairness, and to set clearer after-sales standards for key components like the electric powertrain and core intelligent driving hardware.

Beijing Business Today reporter: Lin Yuwei / Text, photos, and video

(Edited by: Wen Jing)