Li Auto reported a significant year-on-year decline in vehicle deliveries for September, marking the fourth consecutive month of falling sales as competition intensifies in China’s new energy vehicle market.
The company delivered 33,951 vehicles in September, down 36.79% from the same month last year, though up 19.01% compared with August. Third-quarter deliveries totaled 93,211 units, a 39.01% drop from the same period in 2024 and 16.08% lower than the second quarter. Year-to-date deliveries reached 297,149 vehicles, a 13.07% decrease from the previous year.
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Cumulative deliveries since the company’s inception stood at 1,431,021 units as of the end of September. Li Auto continues to hold a leading position in the RMB200,000 and above SUV segment in China, maintaining strong market share despite the recent decline in sales.
In an effort to bolster its presence in the pure-electric segment and offset declining deliveries, Li Auto introduced the Li i6 in September, its second battery electric SUV following the Li i8. The five-seat Li i6, priced from RMB 249,800 ($35,020), undercuts the larger six-seat Li i8 by RMB 90,000, or roughly 26%.
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The model reportedly attracted more than 20,000 firm orders within hours of launch, highlighting robust demand for the company’s expanding battery electric lineup, according to local media outlet LatePost.
The company has expanded its retail and service network to 542 stores in 157 cities, supported by 546 service centers and authorized body and paint shops operating in 225 cities. Its charging infrastructure includes 3,420 supercharging stations with 18,897 charging stalls nationwide.
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In addition, Li Auto has established a 50-50 joint venture with Sunwoda subsidiary SEVB to produce and sell lithium-ion batteries, a move aimed at tightening control over costs, supply chain, and technology as the company accelerates its push into fully electric vehicles. The partnership is registered with the Shanghai Market Regulation Authority.