Beijing-based carmaker Li Auto launched on Tuesday its second fully electric model after spending nearly a decade producing only extended range hybrid SUVs.
After launching a fully electric MPV last year — named Li Mega — the company’s founder and CEO Li Xiang presented on Tuesday the Li i8, a six-seat fully electric SUV set to compete with the upcoming six-seat SUVs Tesla Model YL and Onvo L90.
The model is available with 90.1 kWh and 97.8 kWh ternary lithium 5C fast-charging battery packs.
The i8 comes with all-wheel drive as standard and offers a CLTC-rated range of 670 km when equipped with the smaller battery and 720 km when choosing the larger one.
The model comes in three different trims — Pro, Max and Ultra — and deliveries in China will begin on August 20.
Prices start at 321,800 yuan ($44,800), 349,800 yuan ($48,700) and 369,800 yuan ($51,500), respectively.
“As a large SUV with dimensions of 5,085 millimeters in length, 1,960 millimeters in width, 1,740 millimeters in height, and a 3,050-millimeter wheelbase, its interior space surpasses that of many full-size SUVs,” the company said on Tuesday.
Li Auto said amid the launch that it has established “the largest supercharging network among Chinese automakers,” with 3,000 stations currently in operation.
The company’s in-house developed electric drive system is “designed to minimize noise and energy consumption,” allowing the model to achieve “industry-leading cabin quietness.”
The Chinese carmaker’s Vice President Liu Jie said last week the model has been a victim of an emerging smear campaign in China.
In a Weibo post, the executive shared a screenshot of an online comment falsely claiming to have test-driven the i8, asking, “is this the next major smear direction by the online trolls targeting the Li Auto i8?”
Competition in the segment is increasing, as Tesla unveiled its three-row Model YL earlier this month.
As of the time of writing, US-listed Li Auto shares are trading 7% lower at $27.20.
