Li Auto on Friday unveiled an updated version of its flagship L9 sport utility vehicle, positioning the model as an “embodied intelligence” SUV as the Chinese automaker looks to refresh its top-end offering amid intensifying competition.
The next-generation Li L9 is scheduled for an official market launch in the second quarter. Founder, chairman and chief executive Li Xiang said the update goes beyond incremental specification changes, aiming instead to deliver a more user-centric vehicle experience. “The evolution of the Li L9 is not just about hardware upgrades, but about creating a truly living vehicle centred on users,” Li said at the unveiling.
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Li Auto also introduced an ultimate variant, the Li L9 Livis, priced at 559,800 yuan ($80,670), significantly above the current L9 Pro and Ultra versions, which start at 409,800 yuan and 439,800 yuan respectively. Li said the Livis represents the company’s vision for a flagship SUV in the era of embodied intelligence, delivering what he described as three generational breakthroughs.
The Livis is equipped with two in-house developed M100 smart driving chips manufactured on a 5-nanometre process, providing 2,560 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of effective computing power, according to the company. Li Auto said the system also features 360-degree LiDAR coverage, forming what Li called a highly advanced smart driving platform.
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Additional technologies in the Livis include an 800-volt fully active suspension system, steer-by-wire, four-wheel steering and electronic mechanical braking. Li did not detail all upgrades planned for the standard L9 variants, though these models are also expected to adopt the M100 chip and more advanced LiDAR systems. The updated L9 will also be offered with a new two-tone exterior option.
First launched in June 2022, the Li L9 is the company’s second extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and serves as its flagship SUV. Chinese media outlet 36Kr has previously reported that a future iteration of the L9 is expected to feature increased dimensions, a revised chassis and a battery capacity exceeding 70 kilowatt-hours, enabling more than 400 kilometres of electric range.
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The refreshed L9 marks Li Auto’s first major product update since it refocused its strategy on its core EREV lineup. The company delivered 406,343 vehicles in 2025, down 18.8% year on year, making it one of the few Chinese new-energy vehicle startups to report a sales contraction as EREV demand softened and battery-electric vehicle output ramped up more slowly.
