Li Auto has launched the 2026 i6, updating its five-seat electric SUV with an in-house driver-assistance chip, a larger battery and revised interior equipment while maintaining the previous model’s starting price.
The Chinese automaker introduced the updated vehicle on Wednesday at a retail price of 249,800 yuan (approximately $37,190), unchanged from the 2025 version.
Customers purchasing the vehicle by 30 November can receive introductory benefits that reduce the price to 239,800 yuan, a discount of 10,000 yuan. Li Auto has opened orders for vehicles with shorter delivery lead times, estimating that some customers could receive their vehicles within one to two weeks. The company had previously planned to begin deliveries in early November.
In-House Chip Replaces Nvidia Hardware
One of the main changes involves the i6’s driver-assistance computing platform. The 2026 model comes standard with Li Auto’s in-house Mach M100 chip, replacing the Nvidia Thor-U used in the previous version.
Each M100 chip provides 1,280 TOPS of computing power, compared with 700 TOPS from the Thor-U. Buyers can also select an optional dual-M100 configuration, offering a combined computing capacity of 2,560 TOPS.
The dual-chip package adds two side-facing and one rear-facing solid-state LiDAR sensors to the standard forward-facing unit. It also includes sensor-activated powered front doors.
Larger Battery Increases Driving Range
The updated i6 uses Li Auto’s in-house Lianshan 5C lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, with capacity increased to 96 kWh from 87.3 kWh in the 2025 model.
According to CLTC figures, the rear-wheel-drive version has a range of up to 780 kilometres, an increase of 60 kilometres. The all-wheel-drive variant reaches up to 710 kilometres, improving by 50 kilometres.
Li Auto also claims the vehicle can gain approximately 500 kilometres of driving range after 10 minutes of charging.
Revised Cockpit and Passenger Equipment
The 2026 model receives an upgraded cockpit computing platform, moving from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295P to the Snapdragon 8797.
The previous arrangement of two 15.7-inch front displays has been replaced by a 29-inch panoramic screen with 6K resolution.
Both front seats now come standard with zero-gravity functionality, 16-way power adjustment and 18-point massage. A 21-inch 4K entertainment screen for rear passengers remains an optional feature.
Other additions include adaptive driving beam (ADB) matrix headlights, a powered front trunk and redesigned exterior door handles.
Li Auto also plans to introduce a paid powered-front-trunk upgrade for owners of the 2025 i6 in December.
Updated Model Retains Previous Starting Price
The 2026 i6 incorporates changes across its driver-assistance hardware, battery system and cabin equipment without increasing its official starting price.
The update also expands the use of components developed in-house by Li Auto. The i6 has become an important model in the company’s battery-electric vehicle business, making the latest changes relevant to its efforts to maintain demand for the five-seat SUV.