“The Car Is Still in the Factory, but the Configuration Is Outdated” — Is the New Owner of the Wenjie M7 Laser Radar a “Big Fool”?

Backlash after HarmonyOS Drive announcement

It has been reported that HarmonyOS Drive (鸿蒙智行) will down‑specify the Wenjie M7 (问界 M7) to include an 896‑line dual‑path, image‑level lidar — a move that has prompted a wave of owner anger and public complaints. Wenjie is the passenger EV brand sold by Seres (赛力斯) in partnership with Huawei (华为) for core software and driving systems, and many buyers say they purchased the 2026 M7 specifically for its previously advertised 192‑line lidar paired with Huawei’s QianKun driving stack. Now some customers who only recently took delivery — and others whose cars are reportedly still at the factory — say their vehicles have already been made “old models” overnight. Who, they ask, is left holding the bag?

Technical leap — and confused upgrade paths

Reportedly, the 896‑line dual‑path lidar is being touted as the current global mass‑production leader in line count and as shifting perception from “point‑cloud” to “image‑level” sensing, with about four times the resolution of 192‑line units. But rollout details are murky. Some higher‑end Seres models (M9, S800) are said to be upgradable to 896‑line units for a fee, and the cheaper M6 is being offered with 896‑line standard — while M7 buyers in the roughly 300,000 RMB price bracket appear to lack a clear paid‑upgrade or compensation channel. It has been reported that Seres and HarmonyOS Drive have not publicly clarified whether recently sold or in‑transit M7s will be eligible for hardware upgrades or financial remedies.

Legal exposure and market impact

Lawyers quoted in reports point to China’s Consumer Protection Law and say that if dealers gave explicit assurances about future configurations, those statements could constitute misleading sales and give affected buyers claims for compensation. It has been reported that consumer complaints have already been filed on multiple platforms. The controversy has also had an immediate market cost: Seres shares fell on the announcement day and have been under pressure since a 2024 peak, even as the company’s sales and quarterly profits remain substantial. For Western readers: this episode highlights a recurring tension in China’s fast‑moving EV sector — aggressive product iteration and feature stratification can drive sales, but can also generate regulatory and reputational risk when early buyers feel shortchanged.