AITO owners get 30% charging fee discount across IONCHI's 606-station premium network in China
AITO owners can now charge on exclusive terms across IONCHI's premium Chinese charging network, including a standing 30% discount on service fees.
- 30%
- 606
- 3,300+
What Happened
AITO owners' charging benefits are now available across IONCHI's nationwide premium charging network, a move aimed at improving the charging experience in prime commercial districts and high-end shopping malls. Verified or authorized AITO owners access the benefits by scanning a QR code with the AITO Charging app or the AITO Charging WeChat mini program. The offer extends to owners of vehicles from IONCHI's shareholder brands and applies at IONCHI premium stations nationwide.
- Service fee discounts
- Reservations
- Priority power allocation
30%
AITO is one of IONCHI's shareholders, which entitles verified owners to the discount as part of their exclusive benefits.
Owners can also skip much of the usual charging routine. After logging in to the AITO Charging app or the AITO Charging WeChat mini program and enabling Plug & Charge, they simply plug in at eligible IONCHI charging piles. The system then recognizes the vehicle automatically and starts charging, with streamlined payment that removes steps such as scanning QR codes, selecting a charger and making payments.
606
The network operates over 3,300 charging piles in major cities across China.
IONCHI is a joint venture established by BMW, AITO and Mercedes-Benz, and has long focused on developing a premium charging network in prime urban commercial districts. IONCHI will also launch a brand refresh, gradually updating signage at all of its stations nationwide.
Why this matters
Charging perks are becoming a way for car brands to hold on to customers after the sale, and AITO's stake in IONCHI gives its owners access to stations in prime commercial districts and high-end malls. The arrangement matters to AITO drivers in China, to owners of the other shareholder brands, and to rival premium charging networks competing for the same urban locations.
Terms in This Story
- Plug & Charge
- A charging standard that lets an electric vehicle identify itself to a charging point automatically, so charging and payment start without a card, app tap or QR scan.
- Charging pile
- A standalone unit that supplies electricity to an electric vehicle, commonly used in China to describe AC and DC charging posts.
- WeChat mini program
- A lightweight app that runs inside the WeChat messaging platform, widely used in China for services such as payments and bookings.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.