Li Auto aims to increase annual sales by 40% in 2026 to approximately 550,000 vehicles, the Chinese media outlet 36kr reported on Wednesday.
The Beijing-based automaker delivered 406,343 units in 2025, failing to meet its lowered 640,000-unit goal by 37%.
Founded in 2015, Li Auto introduced its first model in 2019, an extended range (EREV) SUV named i ONE.
In 2020, its first full year of deliveries, the Chinese brand recorded 32,624 units.
Sales rose by 177% a year later to a total of 90,471 units.
In 2024, the company surpassed the 500,000 mark for the first time, with 500,508 vehicles sold.
Last year, deliveries dropped by 18.8% to 406,343 units.
Li Auto achieved only about 63% of its lowered 640,000-unit target.
Initially, the brand was aiming to deliver 700,000 units in 2025. The guidance was revised in May as the company faced weaker than expected demand.
Last year, Li Auto expanded to several new global markets, including Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan — where it introduced the Li L6, L7 and L9 EREV SUVs.
Last November, 36kr reported that the Beijing-headquartered brand had previously sold vehicles in Russia, the Middle East, and Central Asia via parallel imports with monthly output reaching 4,000 units.
However, total export figures to those countries “have now dropped to several hundred vehicles per month.”
NEV Additions
Li Auto is set to expand and upgrade its new-energy vehicles (NEV) portfolio.
This year, the company will refocus its product strategy on EREVs, aiming to “reclaim its leading position” in the segment, 36kr reported citing a senior executive of the carmaker.
The L-series of premium EREV SUVs is set to receive “more aggressive upgrades at the chassis and vehicle control levels,” according to the report.
Li Auto will also reduce the series’ variants and implement core features across all versions, including the 5C ultra-fast charging technology.
The company will prioritize the new-generation Li L9 model this year.
“The 2026 L9 will be larger in size, feature a completely upgraded chassis, and carry an extended-range battery exceeding 70 kWh, supporting a pure electric range of more than 400 kilometers,” the report noted.
Meanwhile, the new-generation L6 SUV is planned to be equipped with a 45 kWh battery pack.
Li Auto is set to release a new fully electric SUV this year.
The new model will be the company’s fourth battery-electric vehicle (BEV), joining a lineup that already includes the Mega MPV, the i8 six-seat SUV, and the i6 five-seat midsize SUV, all launched in China between May and September last year.
The i6 model is preparing to introduce Sunwoda as a second battery supplier to reduce delivery pressure, 36kr reported.
The outlet noted that monthly new orders for the i8 SUV stand at about 1,000, while MEGA Home sales have fallen below the 1,000 units mark.
Sales Target of Chinese Brands
36kr reported last week that XPeng plans to deliver between 550,000 and 600,000 vehicles this year, citing an internal meeting of the Guangzhou-headquartered brand.
Xiaomi‘s co-founder and CEO Lei Jun said earlier this month that the company aims to deliver 550,000 units this year, while Nio plans to sell between 456,000 and 489,000 units – a 40% to 50% increase from 2025.
