Chinese EV Brand Claims It Hired Ferrari’s Chief Designer. Ferrari Says That’s Bull.

A Chinese EV brand just walked into one of the automotive world’s most predictable beefs: claiming a big-name designer penned its latest vehicle, only to have that designer’s former employer call shenanigans on social media.

Meet the Luxeed RX, a new electric SUV from Chery’s Luxeed brand (built in partnership with Huawei under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance). The company’s executive director, Zhao Changjiang, told Carnewschina that the RX was designed by a recent hire described as a “former Ferrari chief designer.” Sounds impressive until Ferrari’s PR director in China politely asked for the designer’s name on social media, noting that, well, Ferrari still has its chief designer and hasn’t reported anyone leaving. The implication was clear: Luxeed is either confused or lying.

The Design That Borrowed a Little Too Much

Here‘s the funny part: whether or not some Ferrari talent actually worked on the RX, the car’s proportions tell a pretty familiar story. The SUV splits the difference between Ferrari’s Purosangue SUV and the Xiaomi YU7, a wildly popular Chinese EV that’s been cleaning up sales lately. The Luxeed RX is chasing that same premium-SUV aesthetic that’s become the default playbook for Chinese EV makers: sleek headlights, a splitter, aggressive side lines, and a light bar that stretches the entire width of the rear end.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The RX actually looks solid—those bulging rear quarter panels and the subtle rear lip spoiler show some thought went into the shaping. But calling in a Ferrari designer to achieve a shape that sits comfortably between two other popular EVs? That’s marketing theater.

The Numbers: Dual Motors and CATL Batteries

Luxeed is offering two powertrains for the RX. The base model runs a single rear motor producing 372 hp, while the higher-spec version gets a dual-motor setup good for 586 hp combined and a top speed of 156 mph (251 km/h). That’s respectable performance, though not earth-shattering by Chinese EV standards—it’s roughly in line with what competitors like the YU7 are already offering.

Battery capacity specs haven’t been announced yet, but Luxeed is following the playbook every Chinese brand uses: the base model gets an NMC pack from CATL, while the flagship version steps up to an NMC battery from CALB. Both are solid suppliers, so at least there’s no compromise on that front.

The RX itself is a mid-size proposition: 197.6 inches long, 79 inches wide, and 62.4 inches tall with a 118.1-inch wheelbase. That wheelbase is key—it’s long enough to promise decent interior space without feeling bloated from the outside. Photos from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology show plenty of customization options too, including brake calipers in yellow, red, and silver, plus wheels with bold purple spokes. It’s exactly the kind of personalization that resonates with younger Chinese buyers.

Why This Matters (And Why It’s Kind of Absurd)

Here’s the real story buried under the designer drama: Luxeed is trying to position the RX as a premium play in a market absolutely flooded with new EVs. In China, there’s virtually no ceiling on how many EV brands can exist. You’ve got established players like BYD and NIO, aspirational upstarts like Li Auto and XPeng, tech companies like Xiaomi jumping in with excellent products, and literally dozens of startups fighting for attention. The Xiaomi YU7 is already cleaning up—it’s cheaper, it’s proven, and people actually want it.

So what does Luxeed do? Slap a Ferrari reference on it and hope nobody notices that the designer story falls apart under the slightest pressure. It’s lazy marketing dressed up as heritage. The Purosangue comparison isn’t accidental; it’s intentional. And it’s the kind of move that works in a fragmented market where brand storytelling matters more than brand authenticity.

The Luxeed RX is a competent-looking EV with decent power and smart battery choices. But the designer claim? That’s just noise. Judge it on what it actually is: another Chinese premium EV that looks good and will probably sell well to people who like the styling and don’t ask too many questions about who actually penned it. Ferrari clearly isn’t losing sleep—they’ve got their PR team on Twitter making sure nobody thinks they’re involved.

Sources: Carscoops