Li Auto has started deliveries of its Li i8 all-electric sport utility vehicle across China, following a relaunch earlier this month aimed at boosting demand for the new model.
The six-seat SUV began rolling out on August 20 in 44 cities, the automaker said in a post on Weibo, though no further details were disclosed beyond photos from handover sites. The company previously said its factories were operating at full capacity and that it aimed to deliver more than 8,000 units by the end of September, with the target potentially rising to 10,000 in partnership with supply chain providers.
“The sales guidance is higher than our previous monthly sales forecast of 5,000 units for the SUV,” Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin’s team wrote in a note, adding they estimated Li Auto currently holds “more than 12,000 cancellable orders for the Li i8.”
The Li i8, launched on July 29, is the company’s second battery electric vehicle after the Li Mega MPV. Following weak initial acceptance, Li Auto reintroduced the model on August 5 with one trim option and a reduced price, now starting at RMB 339,800 ($47,330). For comparison, the Li L8 extended-range EV starts at RMB 321,800.
Li Auto plans to expand its lineup further with the Li i6, a smaller and more affordable electric SUV due to launch in September. Analysts at Deutsche Bank project the i6 could reach average monthly sales of 15,000 units, providing a stronger boost to the company’s overall deliveries and stock performance.
