Written by Li Auto
Li Auto is a Beijing car maker that builds big family SUVs and an electric MPV, and it made its name with range-extender models you can drive on electricity most days. In this guide you’ll find the 2026 lineup and prices, as well as the company’s history, its owners and its records.
Li Auto at a Glance
Founded 2015 In Beijing, as CHJ Automotive
Founder Li Xiang Chairman and CEO
Headquarters Beijing, China Main plant in Changzhou
Deliveries, 2025 406,343 Record year was 2024 with 500,508
Revenue, 2025 RMB 112.3 billion Profitable for a third year
Listing Nasdaq: LI Also HKEX: 2015, since 2021
Li Auto Model Lineup
Li Auto sells two kinds of cars in 2026: L-series SUVs with a range extender, and i-series SUVs and the MEGA MPV that are fully electric. The prices below are also 2026 China starting prices. In addition, the older L7 is being phased out, so it isn’t listed here.
Range-extender SUVs (3)
Midsize five-seat SUV
L6
Range extender 300 km electric 1,250 km total
The second-generation L6 launched in July 2026, so it’s the newest L model, and it starts at RMB 249,800. Its 51 kWh battery gives 300 km of electric range on the Chinese CLTC test, while the gas engine adds enough for 1,250 km in total.
Large five-seat SUV
L8
Range extender 430 km electric 420 kW
The new L8 arrived in June 2026 with five seats instead of six. It starts at RMB 369,800, and it can drive 430 km on electricity before the engine starts.
Full-size flagship SUV
L9
Range extender 420 km electric Four-wheel steering
The second-generation L9 launched in May 2026, before the new L8 and L6, and it starts at RMB 459,800. It also gets steer-by-wire, four-wheel steering and active suspension, as well as up to 1,650 km of total range.
Electric SUVs (3)
Midsize electric SUV
i6
Electric Up to 720 km CLTC 5C charging
The i6 launched in September 2025, while it starts at RMB 249,800, the same as the L6. Because it supports 5C charging, it can add a lot of range in a short stop. It is also due in Europe as the Li 6 in late 2026.
Six-seat electric SUV
i8
Electric Up to 780 km CLTC 97.8 kWh
The i8 was the brand’s first electric SUV when it launched in July 2025. Since August 2026 a rear-drive version starts at RMB 309,800, while the all-wheel-drive car costs RMB 339,800.
Flagship electric SUV
i9
Electric 705 km CLTC 400 kW
Finally, the i9 launched in September 2026 as the new electric flagship, and it starts at RMB 369,800. It has a 101 kWh battery, while its drag coefficient is just 0.215.
Electric MPV (1)
Large electric MPV
MEGA
Electric 710 km CLTC 108 kWh
Meanwhile, the MEGA became the brand’s first electric car in 2024. Then the second generation arrived in September 2026 at RMB 509,800, which is RMB 50,000 less than before.
What Is Li Auto?
Li Auto was founded in Beijing in 2015 by Li Xiang, who had earlier founded the car website Autohome. At first it was called CHJ Automotive, and it planned a tiny city car called the SEV. However, it dropped that project in 2018 and focused on a large family SUV instead.
Then that SUV became the Li ONE, which went into production in November 2019. It used a range extender: a small gas engine that only charges the battery, while electric motors drive the wheels. As a result, owners could drive on electricity day to day without worrying about long trips.
Later, the company listed on Nasdaq in July 2020 and in Hong Kong in 2021. Then the L-series SUVs turned it into a big seller, and in 2023 it became the first of China’s major EV start-ups to make an annual profit. Since 2024 it has also sold fully electric models.
Li Auto History
Li Auto went from a start-up to more than 1.8 million deliveries in about 11 years.
- 2015 Li Xiang founds the company in Beijing as CHJ Automotive.
- 2018 The small SEV project is cancelled, so the team focuses on one large SUV.
- 2019 The Li ONE is unveiled in April, and production starts in November.
- 2020 The company becomes Li Auto and lists on Nasdaq in July.
- 2021 The company lists in Hong Kong in August, while it passes 100,000 deliveries in November.
- 2022 The L9 launches in June, and the Li ONE ends production in October.
- 2023 The L7 and L8 go on sale, while the company makes its first full-year profit.
- 2024 Meanwhile, the MEGA and L6 launch, and the millionth car is delivered in October.
- 2025 The i8 and i6 launch, while the brand enters Egypt, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
- 2026 Finally, new L9, L8 and L6 models arrive, along with the M100 chip, the i9 and a new MEGA.
Iconic Li Auto Models
Li Auto is young, but these earlier models also defined the brand.
2019–2022
Li ONE
Range extender First model
The Li ONE was the company’s first car, while its 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine worked only as a generator. In fact, 211,482 were sold in China before production ended.
2022–2026
L9 (first generation)
Flagship SUV Range extender
The first L9 started the L series in 2022, and it sold 114,377 units in 2023 alone. Later, L9 deliveries reached 300,000 by July 2026.
2024–2026
L6 (first generation)
Best-seller Range extender
The first L6 launched in April 2024 at RMB 249,800, so it was the cheapest way into the brand. In fact, L6 deliveries passed 400,000 by August 2026.
Who Owns Li Auto?
Li Auto is a public company, but founder Li Xiang is still its largest shareholder. When AutoGathering has a page for a brand, its name below links to that page.
Largest shareholder Li Xiang Founder, chairman and CEO
This page Li Auto Inc. Beijing · Nasdaq: LI · HKEX: 2015
Main plant Changzhou Jiangsu, China
Second plant Beijing Shunyi district
Chip M100 5 nm driving chip
Charging 5C supercharging 4,188 stations in China
Chinese EV rivals
In China, Li Auto also competes with these electric car makers.
For example, Meituan founder Wang Xing is the second-largest shareholder, with about 20.6% after he sold some shares in June 2025.
Earlier names
- CHJ Automotive (2015–2019) The company’s first name, when it was based in Beijing and planning the SEV.
- Leading Ideal (2019–2020) The holding company’s name before it became Li Auto.
Li Auto Accomplishments
The record of Li Auto includes profits, fast growth and its own driving chip.
2023
First profitable start-up
The company earned RMB 11.8 billion in 2023, so it was the first major Chinese EV start-up to make a full-year profit.
3
Profitable years in a row
In addition, it stayed profitable in 2024 and 2025.
1 million
Deliveries in 58 months
It delivered its millionth car in October 2024, so it was the first of China’s new car brands to reach that mark.
500,508
Deliveries in 2024
The company delivered a record 500,508 cars in 2024, while the L6 and MEGA joined the lineup.
1.83 million
Total deliveries
Meanwhile, total deliveries reached 1,833,651 by September 30, 2026.
4,188
Supercharging stations
In addition, the company had 4,188 5C charging stations in China in September 2026.
1,280
TOPS per chip
Its own M100 chip, shown in May 2026, delivers 1,280 TOPS of computing power.
Talk Li Auto With Other Owners
When you own one, you’ll have plenty to share, whether it’s a long trip in an L9 or charging tips for an i6. Soon, AutoGathering will connect this page to a Li Auto community space where you can compare models, share advice and plan meetups.
- L6, L8 and L9
- i6, i8 and i9
- MEGA
- Range extenders explained
- 5C charging
- Driver assistance and software
- Buying used
- Li Auto outside China
Li Auto FAQ
What is Li Auto?
Li Auto is a Chinese car maker based in Beijing, founded in 2015 by Li Xiang. It builds large SUVs and an MPV, and it is listed in New York and Hong Kong.
Who owns Li Auto?
It is a public company. However, founder Li Xiang is the largest shareholder, while Meituan founder Wang Xing is second with about 20.6%.
Is Li Auto electric?
Yes. The L series are range-extender electric cars, while the MEGA, i6, i8 and i9 are fully electric.
What is a range extender?
It is a small gas engine that only charges the battery, so the wheels are always driven by electric motors. For example, the new L8 gets 430 km on electricity and 1,670 km in total.
What is the cheapest Li Auto?
The L6 and the i6 are the cheapest models, both from RMB 249,800 in China.
How much does the Li MEGA cost?
The second-generation MEGA costs from RMB 509,800 in China. In contrast, the first MEGA cost RMB 559,800 in 2024.
Does Li Auto sell cars outside China?
Yes. The company also sells in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Egypt and the UAE. In addition, the i6 is due in Europe as the Li 6 from late 2026.
Explore More Manufacturers
Compare Li Auto with other electric and family SUV brands.
Photo credits
- Header image: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Gray second-generation Li L6 SUV in a…: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Li L8 Livis SUV in a showroom: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Dark gray second-generation Li L9 Livis SUV…: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- White 2026 Li MEGA electric MPV, rear…: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- White Li i6 electric SUV on display…: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.
- White Li i8 electric SUV in a…: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Gray Li i9 electric SUV in a…: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0, cropped and resized.
- Light blue 2020 Li ONE SUV in…: User3204, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Silver first-generation Li L9 SUV on a…: Zotyefan, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- First-generation Li L6 SUV on display in…: S5A-0043, CC BY 4.0, cropped and resized.