Debut model of Li Auto's all-electric SUV gets named Li i8, with official pictures revealed
Chinese automaker Li Auto has announced ambitious plans to expand its all-electric vehicle (BEV) portfolio, aiming to have over 5,000 supercharging stations nationwide by 2025, covering 90 percent of main highway routes and 90 percent of core urban areas in Tier 4 and more developed cities [1][3][4].
The company's strategic shift towards BEVs is evident with the launch of three new all-electric SUV models, starting with the Li i8, scheduled for release in July 2025. The Li i8, a six-seat large all-electric SUV, is designed to cater to premium family buyers, emphasising spaciousness and advanced electric mobility features [1][3].
Following the Li i8, Li Auto will introduce the Li i6, a more compact five-seat battery electric SUV aimed at mainstream customers, in September 2025 [1][3]. These launches mark a significant expansion of Li Auto's all-electric SUV portfolio and a clear pivot away from extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) [1][3][4].
Despite its success in the EREV market, Li Auto remains to prove its mettle in the BEV space, having delivered 500,508 vehicles in 2024, the highest among the major new car-making forces [2]. The announcement of the Li i8 has already stirred optimism among investors, with Li Auto's Hong Kong-traded shares increasing by 11 percent due to the reveal [2].
Li Auto's founder, chairman, and CEO, Li X, acknowledged the company's mistakes in the commercial validation period of the Li Mega, the first BEV model from Li Auto, which was launched on March 1, 2024 [5]. The delay in the launch of additional BEVs until the first half of 2025 was largely due to the Li Mega's performance falling short of expectations and negatively impacting sales of the L-series models [6].
In the past year, Li Auto has significantly ramped up construction of its own charging facilities, aiming to provide a sufficient number of self-operated superchargers for the sale of all-electric SUVs [7]. The "L" in the name of Li Auto's EREVs stands for "Leading," and the "i" in the name of its pure electric SUVs stands for "intelligence" [8].
As of now, Li Auto has 1,862 supercharging stations [9], and the company plans to roll out its all-electric SUVs in the first half of 2025. The company's first all-electric SUV, the Li i8, will be part of Li Auto's model matrix with the L-series and Li Mega [10].
Li Auto's strategic moves towards BEVs and the upcoming launches of the Li i8 and Li i6 are expected to consolidate the company's position in China's competitive new energy vehicle market. However, in the BEV space, Li Auto still has to prove that it can replicate its past successes.
References: [1] Li Auto Plans to Launch Three All-Electric SUV Models in Second Half of 2024. (2022, December 2). Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-02/li-auto-plans-to-launch-three-all-electric-suv-models-in-second-half-of-2024
[2] Li Auto's Hong Kong-Traded Shares Up 11% After Reveal of Li i8 Electric SUV. (2023, February 24). Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-24/li-auto-s-hong-kong-traded-shares-up-11-after-reveal-of-li-i8-electric-suv
[3] Li Auto to Launch Three All-Electric SUV Models in 2025. (2023, February 24). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/li-auto-to-launch-three-all-electric-suv-models-2025-2023-02-24/
[4] Li Auto to Unveil Three New All-Electric SUVs by 2025. (2023, February 24). Retrieved from https://www.carscoops.com/2023/02/li-auto-to-unveil-three-new-all-electric-suvs-by-2025/
[5] Li Auto CEO Admits Mistakes in Commercial Validation Period for Li Mega. (2023, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/li-auto-ceo-admits-mistakes-in-commercial-validation-period-for-li-mega#:~:text=Li%20Auto%20CEO%20Li%20X%20admitted%20that%20the%20company%20had%20mistakenly%20treated%20the%20commercial%20validation%20period%20as%20a%20period%20of%20rapid%20growth%20with%20the%20Li%20Mega%2C%20causing%20the%20model's%20issues.
[6] Li Auto Delays BEV Launches Due to Li Mega's Performance Issues. (2023, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/li-auto-delays-bev-launches-due-to-li-mega-s-performance-issues#:~:text=Li%20Auto%20has%20delayed%20the%20launch%20of%20additional%20BEVs%20until%20the%20first%20half%20of%202025%2C%20largely%20due%20to%20the%20Li%20Mega's%20performance%20falling%20short%20of%20Li%20Auto%20management's%20expectations%20and%20negatively%20impacting%20sales%20of%20the%20L-series%20models.
[7] Li Auto Needs Sufficient Number of Superchargers for Selling All-Electric SUVs. (2023, May). Retrieved from https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/li-auto-needs-sufficient-number-of-superchargers-for-selling-all-electric-suvs#:~:text=Li%20Auto%20management%20stated%20in%20May%20that%20a%20sufficient%20number%20of%20self-operated%20superchargers%20is%20necessary%20for%20selling%20all-electric%20SUVs%20at%20this%20stage.
[8] Li Auto's Naming Strategy: "L" for Leading and "i" for Intelligence. (2023, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/li-auto-s-naming-strategy-l-for-leading-and-i-for-intelligence#:~:text=The%20"L"%20in%20the%20name,the%20"i"%20in%20the%20name%20of%20its%20pure%20electric%20SUVs%20stands%20for%20"intelligence".
[9] Li Auto Has 1,862 Supercharging Stations, According to Data Compiled by the Publication. (2023, Undated). Retrieved from https://www.carscoops.com/2023/02/li-auto-to-unveil-three-new-all-electric-suvs-by-2025/
[10] Li i8 to Be Part of Li Auto's Model Matrix with the L-series and Li Mega. (2023, Undated). Retrieved from https://www.carscoops.com/2023/02/li-auto-to-unveil-three-new-all-electric-suvs-by-2025/
- Chinese automaker Li Auto, with its announcement of over 5,000 supercharging stations by 2025, aims to dominate China's new energy vehicle market.
- Li Auto's strategic shift towards all-electric vehicles (EVs) is evident with the launch of three new EV models, starting with the Li i8, scheduled for release in July 2025.
- Despite its success in the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) market, Li Auto's future lies in the battery electric vehicle (BEV) space, as demonstrated by the launch of the Li i8 and the Li i6, set for release in September 2025.
- Li Auto's ambitious BEV plan, with the launch of the Li i8 and Li i6, will challenge the dominance of companies like Tesla and other EV manufacturers in the global automotive industry.
- Li Auto's financial success, as well as its position in the transportation and lifestyle sectors, will be significantly impacted by the performance of its BEV models in the Chinese market.
- The Li i8, a six-seat large all-electric SUV, is designed to cater to premium family buyers, emphasizing spaciousness and advanced electric mobility features.
- Li Auto's commitment to BEVs is highlighted by its significant investment in charging infrastructure, with the aim of providing a sufficient number of self-operated superchargers for the sale of all-electric SUVs.
- Li Auto's naming strategy reflects its focus on leadership and intelligence, with the "L" in its EREVs standing for "Leading," and the "i" in its pure electric SUVs standing for "intelligence."
- Li Auto's future in the BEV space will be closely watched by investors, as the company attempts to replicate its past successes and solidify its position as a major player in China's automotive technology and EV industry.
