Li Auto is preparing to launch the Li i8, its first all-electric SUV, in July. This release follows the Li Mega MPV and represents a significant step in the company’s all-electric vehicle strategy.
The company initially revealed the Li i8’s name and provided the first official images on February 25. A teaser video was subsequently shared on Weibo, further signaling the impending July release.
Li Auto currently focuses on extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), with its L-series SUVs, including the Li L6, Li L7, Li L8, and Li L9, comprising its existing lineup. The Li Mega MPV, launched on March 1, 2024, was the company’s initial foray into battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Li Auto had previously planned to introduce more BEVs in the latter half of 2024. However, this timeline was adjusted, with the launch now slated for the first half of 2025. This delay was primarily due to the Li Mega’s sales performance, which did not meet the company’s initial expectations, and which also affected sales of the L-series models.
Simultaneously, Li Auto is investing heavily in its charging infrastructure. According to Li Xiang, the company’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Li Auto aims to have over 2,500 self-operated supercharging stations, equipped with more than 15,000 superchargers, operational across China by the time the Li i8 is released. This expansion is intended to alleviate charging concerns for BEV users.
As of February 28, Li Auto had already commissioned its 1,873rd supercharging station, bringing its total supercharging piles to over 10,000.
In February, Li Auto delivered 26,263 vehicles, a 29.69 percent increase compared to the 20,251 vehicles delivered in the same month the previous year. However, this figure represents a 12.24 percent decrease from the 29,927 vehicles delivered in January. For the January-February period, the company delivered 56,190 vehicles, a 9.29 percent increase compared to the 51,416 vehicles delivered during the same period last year.
Li Auto is scheduled to release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2024 on Friday, March 14, before the US markets open.
