Li Auto launches updated L9 to revive flagship SUV sales, international version to roll out in Q3

  • Li Auto highlighted the higher-end L9 Livis, starting at 509,800 yuan ($74,940), which is 9% lower than its pre-sales price.
  • An exclusive international version of the Li L9 will officially launch in the third quarter of 2026, landing first in Central Asia and the Middle East.
(Image credit: Li Auto)

Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) has launched the new generation of the Li L9, updating its flagship extended-range sport utility vehicle (SUV) and planning to bring it to overseas markets.

The Chinese automaker officially rolled out the updated Li L9 at an event on Friday, offering the existing Ultra version alongside the more premium Livis edition. Deliveries have begun immediately.

The Li L9 Livis starts at 509,800 yuan ($74,940), which is 9% lower than the pre-sales price of 559,800 yuan announced by the company in February.

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Livis stands for Lixiang Very Intelligent System, akin to Jarvis, reflecting Li Auto's ambition to create a similar assistant. Edwin Jarvis is a fictional character in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly appearing as a supporting character in titles like "Iron Man" and "The Avengers."

A core technological highlight of the Li L9 Livis is its dual 5 nm Mach M100 smart driving chips, developed in-house by Li Auto.

Each chip delivers a computing power of 1,280 TOPS, giving the Li L9 Livis a total of 2,560 TOPS — three times the capacity of a single Nvidia Thor-U chip.

This computing power, combined with the four LiDAR sensors providing 360-degree coverage around the vehicle, serves as an smart driving brain for navigating complex road conditions.

The new vehicle is equipped with Li Auto's in-house developed third-generation range extender, which reduces fuel consumption to 6.3 liters per 100 kilometers under WLTC conditions.

The vehicle features a 72.7 kWh battery pack and can achieve a pure electric range of 420 kilometers under CLTC conditions.

This makes the model one of the longest-range extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) available, complete with support for 5C supercharging technology.

When fully fueled and charged, the Li L9 Livis boasts a comprehensive range of up to 1,650 kilometers.

The vehicle's chassis technology has also achieved breakthroughs, featuring an 800-volt fully independent active suspension system capable of unleashing massive single-wheel lifting force in milliseconds.

The model's full drive-by-wire chassis system includes steer-by-wire, four-wheel steering, and fully electro-mechanical braking functions, enhancing the vehicle's handling performance.

The interior space is equipped with four zero-gravity seats, a 29-inch ultra-wide panoramic display, and a smart in-car system powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 Elite chip.

The Li L9 Ultra, starting at 459,800 yuan, shares the same dimensions and most other specifications with the Livis edition, but is equipped with a single M100 chip and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 Max cabin chip.

The Ultra version also lacks the 800-volt fully independent active suspension.

An exclusive international version of the Li L9 for overseas markets will officially launch in the third quarter of 2026, debuting in regions including Central Asia and the Middle East with comprehensive localized optimizations, the company announced.

The exclusive international edition will feature multiple specific localized optimizations, including a dedicated Li Auto App, globally compatible charging ports, a navigation system integrating local maps and real-time traffic information, and a localized infotainment system that can be continuously updated via over-the-air (OTA) technology.

These optimizations are designed to ensure that the new Li L9 provides a smooth and compliant user experience in regions outside of China, according to Li Auto.

The new Li L9 exclusive international version marks the full launch of Li Auto's dual-pillar strategy supported by both domestic and overseas markets, the company said.

Originally launched in June 2022, the Li L9 is one of the highest-priced models from a domestic Chinese automaker.

The extended-range SUV delivered 45,214 units in 2025, representing a 47.31% year-on-year decline, as more competing products equipped with larger batteries emerged.

In the first four months of this year, Li L9 deliveries totaled 4,131 units, plunging 74.17% year-on-year, partly due to the traditional slow season at the beginning of the year and potential consumers waiting for the updated version.

Li Auto delivered 95,142 vehicles in the first quarter, beating the upper end of its delivery guidance of 85,000 to 90,000 units.
May 12, 2026

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