A leaked document has revealed that Li Auto is set to significantly expand its plans for supercharging stations as it prepares to launch its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) model next month.
According to the document, Li Auto aims to have more than 10,000 supercharging stations by 2025, representing a major increase from its previously announced plan. Earlier, the company had stated its intention to build 3,000 charging stations by 2025, covering 90 percent of China’s highway mileage and major cities.
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As of the end of January, Li Auto had 332 supercharging stations in China. The leaked plan suggests that the company will expedite the construction of charging stations by partnering with third parties and leveraging the resources of its partners.
Li Auto’s supercharging station construction efforts are expected to ramp up in 2023, with 2024 designated as the maturation phase and 2025 as the “breakout” phase. By 2024, the company aims to have more than 4,000 supercharging stations, covering 90 percent of China’s first-, second-, and third-tier cities, and serving 130,000 BEV owners.
By 2025, Li Auto plans to expand its supercharger network to China’s tier 4 and 5 cities, achieving 90 percent coverage of these less developed cities and meeting the charging needs of 920,000 BEV owners. By 2026, the company’s supercharging stations are expected to cater to the charging needs of 2.16 million BEV owners.
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Li Auto is currently known for its Li L7, Li L8, and Li L9 extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), which are essentially plug-in hybrids. The company is set to launch its first BEV, the Li Mega MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle), on March 1, with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter.
The expansion of Li Auto’s supercharging station network is seen as a crucial step in preparing for the sales of its BEVs. The company aims to challenge the market in 2024 with 800,000 annual BEV sales, while targeting sales of at least 400,000 units of its existing models. It also plans to launch three BEV models based on a high-voltage platform in the second half of 2024.
