Li Auto is aiming to return to growth in 2026 by placing renewed emphasis on extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), refocusing on the segment that has historically underpinned its business, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 36Kr.
The Chinese automaker has set a preliminary growth target of about 40% for 2026, which would translate into sales of roughly 550,000 vehicles, the report said. The target follows a difficult 2025, when Li Auto delivered 406,343 vehicles, down 18.81% from a year earlier, making it one of the few Chinese EV startups to record a year-on-year decline.
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Peers are also outlining aggressive expansion plans for 2026. Nio has said it aims to grow sales by 40% to 50% after delivering 326,028 vehicles in 2025, while Xpeng is targeting 550,000 to 600,000 deliveries. Xiaomi EV has set a target of 550,000 vehicles, and Leapmotor has said it aims to sell 1 million units in 2026.
To support its recovery, Li Auto plans to narrow its focus in 2026, launching only one new battery electric SUV while shifting operational resources back toward its EREV portfolio, 36Kr reported. The company’s battery electric vehicle lineup will continue to receive annual upgrades, but without a major expansion.
Li Auto was among China’s earliest proponents of EREV technology and currently sells a range of L-series SUVs—the Li L6, Li L7, Li L8 and Li L9. Its battery electric offerings include the Li Mega MPV and the Li i6 and Li i8 SUVs.
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The company plans to prioritize a major upgrade of its flagship Li L9 in 2026. According to 36Kr, the next-generation model will feature larger dimensions, a revised chassis and a battery capacity exceeding 70 kWh, enabling more than 400 km of electric-only driving range. The model will also debut Li Auto’s in-house M100 smart driving chip, while the cockpit system will transition to Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8797 chip.
“The true transformation in value and experience will emerge in 2026 when AI systems centered around the M100 chip begin shipping with products,” Li Xiang, Li Auto’s founder, chairman and chief executive, said during an earnings call in November 2025.
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Li Auto plans to reposition the Li L9 higher in the market and is targeting annual sales of more than 100,000 units for the model, an industry insider cited by 36Kr said.
