(Yicai Global) June 12 -- Chinese tech giant Huawei, which has long denied that it will start making its own cars, has acquired the trademark to the Wenjie marque, that it produces together with auto manufacturer Jinkang Seres Automobile, and is likely to form a unified brand to label all its vehicles developed in conjunction with other carmakers.

Huawei bought the Wenjie trademark last week for use in the automotive industry, according to announcement by the National Intellectual Property Bureau last week.

Huawei plans to apply the Wenjie brand on all the cars that it develops together with other vehicle manufacturers, a person familiar with the matter told Yicai Global. The Shenzhen-based company definitely needs its own brand name if it intends to develop long term in the auto sector, he added.

"Huawei does not make cars on its own, and the goal of producing good vehicles by linking arms with other auto companies remains unchanged,” a company insider told Yicai Global.

Up until now, Seres has been the carmaker most deeply involved with Huawei. Chongqing-based Seres is responsible for research and development, manufacturing and deliveries, while Huawei is deeply involved in vehicle design, software development and sales.

Huawei has invested more in the development and sales of autos with Seres, than it usually does with its Huawei Inside model, where it supplies the autonomous driving software.

The intention to form its own car marque was mentioned in April by the head of Huawei’s smart car division.

“At present, our cars are produced by Seres, but soon Chery Automobile, BAIC and Anhui Jianghui Automobile Group, also known as JAC, will also join us,” said Richard Yu. “Huawei wants to use a unified brand in its hook ups with these car firms, otherwise the marketing, provision of services and retail of these vehicles will be too complicated.”

But whether Huawei can apply the Wenjie marque to cars developed with big names like Chery, BAIC and JAC remains to be seen.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Kim Taylor