- Li Auto will launch the new i9 pure electric flagship SUV in the second half of this year to enrich its BEV product matrix.
- Positioned as the pure electric flagship of the family lineup, the i9 is expected to be physically larger than the existing i8 model.
Li Auto will release its i9 flagship electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the second half of this year, as the Chinese automaker seeks to revive its sales momentum after a challenging year.
Li Xiang, the company's founder, chairman and CEO, announced the plan during an earnings call on Thursday, saying the i9 will further enrich its battery electric vehicle (BEV) product matrix and meet diverse user needs.
"The year 2026 will be a crucial year for Li Auto to evolve into an embodied AI enterprise. Faced with intensifying competition in the NEV market, we will be committed to raising our technological moat," the Li Auto CEO said.
Positioned as the pure electric flagship model of the family lineup, the upcoming i9 is expected to be physically larger than the existing i8 model.
The Li i8 measures 5,085 millimeters in length and features a wheelbase of 3,050 mm.
The upcoming rollout of the i9 is a key component of Li Auto's 2026 strategy, with the company having set a target to achieve a 20% year-on-year growth in vehicle deliveries this year.
The growth target implies the company is aiming to deliver about 490,000 vehicles in 2026.
The goal follows a significant slump in the automaker's performance last year, when Li Auto's total deliveries plunged 18.8% to 406,343 units.
Li Auto has faced major hurdles in its transition to pure electric vehicles, with the market performance of its first electric SUV, the i8, falling short of internal expectations.
The disappointing initial reception reportedly led to the departure of Zhang Xiao, president of its second product line, late last year.
Beyond product launches, the company plans to translate its continuous investments in artificial intelligence into distinctly different product experiences.
Furthermore, 2026 will mark the first year of Li Auto's formal expansion into overseas markets, an opportunity the company views as a hedge against fierce domestic competition.
