Li Auto has opened its first overseas retail center in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, marking its official entry into the Central Asian market as part of a broader push to expand beyond China.
The new center will sell three of Li Auto’s extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models — the Li L9, Li L7, and Li L6 — to local customers. These models are part of the company’s EREV SUV lineup, which also includes the Li L8. In addition, Li Auto offers three battery electric vehicle (BEV) models in China: the Li Mega MPV, Li i6 SUV, and Li i8 SUV.
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Unlike its direct-sales approach in China, Li Auto is using an authorized dealer model for international operations. The company said it will also open retail centers in Almaty and Astana, Kazakhstan, in November. Customers purchasing vehicles through official overseas dealers will receive warranty coverage, inspection and maintenance services, genuine parts, technical support, and OTA software updates.
Li Auto said all models launching in 2026 will meet overseas regulatory standards, supported by its R&D centers in Germany and the United States. The automaker’s expansion into Central Asia follows its cooperation agreements with Uzbekistan-based Control Auto and Kazakhstan’s Allur and Doscar, which it described as key partners in luxury vehicle distribution and service networks.
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“Entering markets such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan demonstrates our commitment not only to selling vehicles but also to building lasting relationships with overseas customers,” said Wu Zuomin, head of Li Auto’s international business.
Li Auto joins peers Nio and Xpeng, which began exploring overseas markets several years earlier. The move marks a strategic shift for the automaker, whose CEO Li Xiang had previously indicated it would delay international expansion until after 2025.
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The company’s presence in Central Asia has grown organically in recent years, with vehicles exported through private channels and ownership in Kazakhstan already surpassing 1,000 units as of mid-2024, according to local reports. Li Auto said it aims to strengthen its regional after-sales and service capabilities to support growing demand.