On September 16, Li Auto officially announced that the Li Auto i6 will launch on September 26. The i6 is the company’s second all-electric SUV and is officially positioned as a “new-form five-seat SUV.” Its design follows the philosophy of the Li Auto i8 and will feature the company’s in-house developed silicon carbide motor, with both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants available.
Exterior Design
The i6 adopts a closed front grille, a sculpted hood with strong character lines, and Li Auto’s signature light bar design. The front fascia also integrates vertical air inlets and a combination headlamp setup, giving it a very distinctive look.
From the side, the SUV uses a two-tone body design with a sporty fastback silhouette. The roof is equipped with a compact ATL all-weather LiDAR, and the C-pillar slopes sharply downward to enhance aerodynamics. Low-drag wheels and flush door handles further emphasize its sporty character.
At the rear, the i6 features a full-width light bar, a subtle roof spoiler, and a clean, layered design. The license plate holder sits at the center of the tailgate, and the lower right corner carries the “i6” badge.
Size and Positioning
The i6 measures 4,950 mm long, 1,935 mm wide, and 1,655 mm tall, with a 3,000 mm wheelbase. It is positioned as a two-row, five-seat mid-to-large SUV. It is expected to slot below the Li Auto i8 in price, making it potentially the brand’s most affordable all-electric SUV and a key volume driver for Li Auto’s EV lineup.
Li Auto CEO Li Xiang has described the i6 as a “spacious, two-row family EV” aimed at households considering rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, and Audi Q5 — giving them another competitive choice.
Powertrain and Technology
The i6 will use Li Auto’s in-house silicon carbide motor technology and be offered in RWD and AWD versions. The dual-motor AWD variant produces 150 kW from the front motor and 250 kW from the rear motor, while the RWD version uses a single 250 kW rear motor. All versions will feature Li Auto’s next-generation 5C LFP battery pack and 800V high-voltage platform.
Pricing Speculation
Market rumors have suggested the i6 could be priced below RMB 230,000 — a price point Li Auto has never reached before and lower than the L6. However, Li Xin Yang, head of Li Auto’s product line, publicly clarified that these reports about “i6 pricing and sales targets” are inaccurate and that official information will be announced at the launch event.
Li Auto’s Product Strategy
In recent years, Li Auto has rapidly expanded its product lineup. The current range includes SUVs L9, L8, L7, and L6, the MEGA MPV, and the i8 all-electric SUV. The i8, launched on July 29 at a starting price of RMB 339,800, was the first model in the i-series and Li Auto’s first pure electric SUV. It features NVIDIA’s Thor chip, standard ATL LiDAR, and supports AEB (automatic emergency braking) and AES (automatic emergency steering). Li Xiang recently set a goal to deliver over 8,000 i8 units in September, with a stretch goal of 10,000 units.
Li Xiang is optimistic about the i6’s market potential, calling it “the most youth-oriented model in the Li Auto family” thanks to its distinctive design and innovative concept. He also noted that most five-seat EV SUVs today follow either a Tesla Model Y–style or a Xiaomi YU7–style approach — but the i6 represents a “third way.”
Sales Outlook
Official data shows Li Auto delivered 263,200 vehicles in the first eight months of 2025, including 28,500 in August. The top-selling model was the L6 with 11,200 units delivered in August, followed by the L7 (5,400), L9 (4,000), and i8 (2,200). Whether the i6 will become the company’s new high-volume model will soon be revealed after its market launch.
