AITO m5 is based on DFSK Seres SF5 that debuted in 2019

SF5 originally launched in pure ev form back when it debuted but too much competition there = lack of sales of this model (since people rather choose tesla or other high profile domestic brands like nio/li auto/xpeng etc)

Until spring 2021 when DFSK started partnership with huashit. Remember huashit don't use egg in one basket strategy, also partnership with other domestic makers like BAIC (Hi powered arcfox alpha s ev cobranded by BAIC-huashit was debuted a bit earlier than huashit-SF5)

So the huashit-SF5 was unveiled in range extender ev form claimed using huashit designed range extender system. Range extender ev was famously used by Li auto ONE to supposedly solve range anxiety commonly concerns of potential ev buyers.

With huashit cobranded and blah blah blah marketing SF5 finally received somehow lukewarm but better reception. Order surged until DFSK need extend the waiting list.

So.... after few months huashit-DFSK decided that the replacement for SF5 to be out as quickly as possible to capitalise on huashit brand reception in domestic china (because still got china people wanna support huashit because of nationalist sentiment). The replacement of SF5, however will use all new brand and naming that means SERES brand to be retired!

Then it happened, AITO brand completely replaced SERES brand in dealerships, branding, everything. DFSK halted the booking of SF5 in favour of new (heavily facelifted) AITO M5. Existing owner/bookers of huashit-SF5 was annoyed that that particular model was quickly "discontinued" and replaced by that new model with different branding altogether.