Li Auto has announced its ambitious plans to launch its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) model, named the Li Mega. Riding high on the success of its extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models, the company is poised to challenge industry conventions.
At the ongoing Chengdu Auto Show, Li Auto confirmed that the Li Mega is scheduled for an official launch this coming December. Prospective buyers can feast their eyes on show cars displayed in stores starting January the following year, with the first deliveries expected to roll out in February. The company’s unyielding confidence shines through, as it asserts the Li Mega’s potential to emerge as China’s highest-selling vehicle with a price tag exceeding 500,000 yuan ($68,630), irrespective of energy type or body style.
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The Li Mega is poised to revolutionize prevailing notions that premium pure electric vehicles (EVs) are unlikely to achieve blockbuster success. Li Auto’s Vice President, Liu Jie, asserts that the Li Mega will not only challenge this skepticism but will also surpass user expectations, firmly establishing its dominance.
Currently, Li Auto boasts a trio of models on the market – the five-seat Li L7, and the slightly larger Li L8 and Li L9, both accommodating six passengers. These existing offerings fall under the EREV category, effectively functioning as plug-in hybrids.
Production of all three models is centered at Li Auto’s manufacturing facility in Changzhou, Jiangsu province. However, the plant is grappling with capacity constraints. Addressing this concern, Li Xiang, the company’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO, announced that the parts capacity bottleneck is anticipated to be resolved by October.
Breaking away from its current production site, the Li Mega will be manufactured at a plant in Beijing, which also serves as the company’s headquarters. Trial production has already commenced at this facility, with full-scale production slated to kick off in the early months of the following year.
Aligning with its contemporaries, Li Auto is forging ahead with its ambitious supercharging network. As part of its strategic expansion, the company aims to complete 100 supercharging stations in time for China’s National Day holiday on October 1. This holiday period, spanning from September 29 to October 6, includes the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 29, with subsequent days being workdays despite the weekend.
Furthermore, Li Auto is on track to establish a total of 300 supercharging stations along highways by the close of the year, solidifying its commitment to enhancing the EV charging infrastructure across the nation. As the automotive landscape continues to evolve, Li Auto’s Li Mega positions itself as a game-changer, redefining the trajectory of premium electric vehicles in the Chinese market.
