I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.Li Auto will launch its flagship electric SUV, the Li i9, on September 16. The vehicle features rotating zero-gravity seats and a 'Home' version variant, positioning it as a luxury family-oriented model. Initial deliveries will utilize CATL's 5C batteries before switching to Li Auto's in-house developed cells. This launch aims to expand Li Auto's BEV lineup and support recent delivery growth, with the company expecting increased BEV sales share in the second half of the year.
- Li i9 Home features rotating zero-gravity seats and will be Li Auto's second model to offer a Home version, following the Li Mega MPV.
- Initial deliveries will feature CATL's 5C batteries, with a subsequent switch to batteries developed in-house by Li Auto.
Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) will launch its flagship electric SUV (sport utility vehicle), the Li i9, in 1 week, expanding its premium battery-electric lineup with more space and a home-inspired cabin.
The Chinese automaker said Wednesday, September 9, that the launch event will begin at 7:30 pm Beijing Time on September 16. Li i9 display vehicles will be available at stores starting September 11.
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Li Auto founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang today showcased the Li i9's interior, which features rotating zero-gravity seats that allow occupants to sit facing each other.
Li compared the Li Mega Home electric MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) to a suburban villa suited to large families, and the Li i9 Home to a luxury city-center apartment, emphasizing space efficiency, views and comfort.
"There has never been a car like this in the world, but the world really needs one," he wrote on Weibo.
The Li i9 will become Li Auto's second model to offer a Home version, following the Li Mega MPV.
The launch comes as Li Auto's deliveries return to growth. The company delivered 37,679 vehicles in August, up 32.07% year-on-year, ending 3 consecutive months of annual declines.
In the first 8 months of the year, Li Auto delivered 261,619 vehicles, still down 0.60% from a year earlier, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
Li Auto monthly deliveries
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The Li i9 will further expand its battery electric vehicle (BEV) lineup, which currently includes the Li Mega and 2 SUVs, the Li i8 and Li i6.
According to regulatory filings released in July, the Li i9 is a 6-seat SUV measuring 5,225 mm in length with a wheelbase of 3,168 mm, making it Li Auto's largest SUV yet.
By comparison, the Li i8 measures 5,085 mm in length with a wheelbase of 3,050 mm. The larger dimensions underpin the Li i9's focus on family space.
The Li i9 in the filings features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, with maximum outputs of 150 kW at the front and 250 kW at the rear, for a combined 400 kW.
Battery supply will change in phases. Li Auto said on September 7 that initial Li i9 deliveries will feature 5C ternary lithium batteries from CATL (HKEX: 3750).
Once production of its in-house batteries ramps up, the Li i9 will switch entirely to that option. The company plans to gradually extend its in-house batteries to all models.
Li Auto clarified on September 8 that it develops and manufactures battery packs itself, while its internally developed cells are manufactured by partners.
The company said it leads battery product definition, performance specifications, quality standards and system integration, while partners handle manufacturing and other tasks.
The new products and technology investments are also intended to improve financial performance. Li Auto's vehicle margin was 9.4% in the second quarter, down from 19.4% a year earlier.
Management said on its August earnings call that battery-electric vehicles are expected to account for a larger share of sales in the second half as new models including the Li i9 arrive.
Li Auto launches new-generation Mega at lower price to revive flagship MPV
The new-generation Li Mega comes only in the Home version, priced at 509,800 yuan ($75,160), 50,000 yuan less than the previous Home version.