The dispute centers on the Luxeed RX, a new SUV backed by Huawei technology and Chery manufacturing. Its design has drawn attention because of its visible similarities to the Ferrari Purosangue, especially in side profile and overall proportions.
Luxeed executive director and executive vice president Zhao Changjiang wrote on Weibo that the company had recruited former BMW and Aston Martin chassis engineers, along with an unnamed former Ferrari chief designer. Ferrari’s China PR boss Ingrid Sun later challenged the statement in a social media post, reportedly asking: “I wanted to ask, what is the name of this former Ferrari chief designer?”
A Design Claim Meets Ferrari’s Public Skepticism
Ferrari’s response appears tied to the wording of Luxeed’s claim. Ferrari has had the same chief design officer, Flavio Manzoni, since 2010, which raises questions about who Luxeed was referring to.
Sun’s post was later deleted. The challenge nonetheless put public pressure on Luxeed to clarify whether the person was a senior Ferrari design executive or someone in a lower-level design role.
The situation fits Ferrari’s long-standing reputation for closely protecting its brand identity. In this case, the issue is not only the alleged hire, but the way the claim was presented publicly.
The RX Draws Comparisons With the Purosangue
The Luxeed RX has been compared directly with the Ferrari Purosangue because of its design and proportions. The RX looks especially similar from the side, although it is a different size and has distinct front and rear fascias. The SUV is 197.6 inches, or 5.02 meters, long. It sits on a 118-inch, or 3-meter, wheelbase.
The base version uses a single motor producing 371 horsepower to the rear wheels. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive version adds a front drive unit producing another 214 horsepower. Details such as battery size, range, and performance figures are expected closer to the vehicle’s official debut in China this fall.
Luxeed Looks Toward a Wider Market
Luxeed is linked to Huawei and Chery, combining technology from one of China’s major tech companies with manufacturing from an established automaker. The RX arrives as Chinese electric SUVs continue to draw attention at home and abroad.
Luxeed likely hopes the RX can follow the success of the Xiaomi YU7, which received 200,000 pre-orders in the first three minutes after orders opened in June of last year. That model initially had a waiting time of more than 30 weeks, though the backlog has since cleared.
Luxeed also plans to expand beyond China into Europe. Several Chery brands are already present there, including Jaecoo. The Jaecoo 7 SUV was the UK’s best-selling new car in March, a sign that Chinese brands are already gaining visibility in European markets.
