Li Auto is making a high-stakes pivot. Once a dominant player in extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), the company is now diving deeper into the fiercely competitive pure EV market. We’ve just gotten our first real look at its latest offering, the i6, a smaller, more affordable all-electric SUV slated for a September launch.
Familiar Looks, New Proportions
From spy shots making the rounds online, the i6 is unmistakably a Li Auto. It borrows heavily from the brand’s family design, sharing a strong resemblance with its larger sibling, the Li i8. You’ll find the signature full-width daytime running lights tucked right under the windshield and the now-familiar split headlight design integrated into the front bumper. A LiDAR unit perched on the roof signals that it will come packed with advanced driver-assistance features, keeping it competitive on the tech front.
While it looks like its big brother, the i6 is a more compact machine. It measures 4,950 mm long, 1,935 mm wide, and 1,655 mm tall, with a generous 3,000 mm wheelbase for a 5-seater. The biggest change is a shorter rear end, since there’s no third row to accommodate. This gives the i6 a sportier, more sloping roofline and a tauter overall profile.
A Crucial Shift in Strategy
This isn’t just another model launch for Li Auto. The company’s leadership in the EREV market has been seriously challenged by aggressive rivals like Aito, powered by Huawei’s intelligent mobility alliance (HIMA). In response, Li Auto began its push into the pure electric vehicle space last year. So far, the results have been mixed. Neither the futuristic Mega MPV nor the recently launched i8 SUV have set the sales charts on fire. The company is counting on the i6 to turn things around.
Will an Aggressive Price Be Enough?
Positioned as a mid-to-large SUV, the i6 is expected to target a price between 250,000 and 300,000 yuan (about 34,750 to 41,700 USD). Given the pressure Li Auto is under, it wouldn’t be surprising to see an even more aggressive price tag at launch to make a splash. The success of the i6 could very well determine the brand’s trajectory in the all-electric era, making its September debut one to watch closely.
