Li Auto Unveils New-Generation i6 Ahead of Paris Debut, Targets ‘Global Hit’

Li Xiang, Li Auto’s chief executive, said the current i6 had delivered more than 190,000 vehicles in its first year in China and ranked among the top three electric models priced above 200,000 yuan for eight consecutive months. The annual update aims to bring comfort features and a self-developed intelligent platform from the MEGA and i9 into Li Auto’s highest-volume five-seat electric SUV. The company summarized the changes under three themes: flagship experience, a large battery across the lineup, and a self-developed intelligent platform.

Inside, the new i6 gets two full-size zero-gravity front seats that can recline to 150 degrees, with 16-way power adjustment and four-way power leg rests. Beyond ventilation and heating, the front seats offer 18-point kneading massage covering the cushion and backrest, and the leg rests are heated. Li Xinyang, head of Li Auto’s i-series products, said foot space has been optimized so occupants do not hit their feet in the zero-gravity position. The second-row backrest can be adjusted electrically from 25 to 50 degrees, allowing passengers to move from sitting to a semi-reclining posture on long trips. The front cabin uses a 29-inch 6K panoramic screen similar to Li Auto’s flagship models, with no break between the center and passenger displays and flexible allocation of left and right display areas. The rear entertainment screen changes from a 21.4-inch 3K unit to a 21-inch 4K unit, with added sky sound channels and a second-row makeup mirror.

On the exterior, the most visible change is an electric front trunk that can close itself, as on the i9. It has a close button inside the lid, and can be opened by tapping the hood, using the phone app or issuing a voice command from outside the vehicle. Li Xinyang said the voice function uses voiceprint recognition to prevent passersby from opening the trunk. Li Auto said the low-opening design makes it easier to load items without bending and helps avoid scratching the paint. The new i6 also comes standard with ADB matrix headlights used on the MEGA Home and L9 Livis. Li Auto said the illuminated distance is nearly 30 percent longer, and a new low-beam assist light has been added. The exterior otherwise changes little: semi-hidden door handles replace the previous hidden design, while dimensions remain the same as the current model.

The larger changes are under the skin. The new i6 will use a self-developed 96 kWh 5C battery. CLTC range rises from 720 km to 780 km for the rear-wheel-drive version, and from 660 km to 710 km for the all-wheel-drive version. Li Xinyang previously explained that the battery cells are developed by Li Auto and manufactured by Sunwoda and CALB, while the battery pack is produced by Li Auto. The company says self-developed cells allow the battery specification to be tailored to the vehicle’s space rather than adapting to suppliers’ common dimensions, giving more freedom in product definition.

On intelligence, the cabin switches to Qualcomm 8797, while the advanced driver-assistance system moves from the Nvidia Thor-U used by the previous AD Max to Li Auto’s self-developed Mach M100. Both are standard on the new i6. Li Xiang said: “Intelligence should not be a threshold between high and low trims, but should be a basic capability of today’s new cars.” The Mach M100 is not new: it debuted in the new L9 Livis and i9. It uses a 5-nanometer automotive-grade process, has single-chip computing power of 1,280 TOPS and an operating efficiency that Li Auto says exceeds 82 percent. The i6 will use the same flagship chip.

The i6 is central to Li Auto’s volume plans. In the second quarter of 2026, it accounted for about 64 percent of the company’s sales, meaning roughly two of every three Li Auto vehicles sold were i6. It is also set to lead Li Auto’s overseas push. Li Auto’s overseas website confirms the European name is Li 6. In September, the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands used 20 2025 Li 6 vehicles to provide courtesy transport for players, event staff and VIP guests. At the Paris Motor Show, the Li 6 will have its official European debut, and Li Auto plans to announce its global product lineup and European business plan in Paris. The company considers the five-seat layout a mainstream family SUV category in Europe, and the domestic annual sales of 190,000 units have demonstrated the product’s capability. Li Xiang has described space, comfort, range, charging and intelligent experience as values shared by users in different regions, with the i6 serving as Li Auto’s calling card to European users.

The new i6 had been expected earlier. Online ordering for the current i6 closed on Sept. 11, leaving stores with fixed-configuration inventory. Reservations for the new model were originally planned for late September but were delayed to late October. Li Xiang previously explained that the i6’s certificate of conformity was expected by the end of October, and before that the vehicle could not be registered or driven for test drives. The certificate issue has lengthened the transition between the old and new models. In China, the i6 remains a top-three seller among electric models priced above 200,000 yuan for eight consecutive months and has delivered more than 190,000 units in a year. The new configuration and self-developed platform are intended to keep it a priority for family buyers. The bigger variable is Europe, where Li Auto must see whether the Li 6 can repeat the i6’s Chinese sales performance.

Editor's Summary

Li Auto has announced the new-generation i6 with flagship seating, a self-developed 96 kWh 5C battery and the Mach M100 chip, aiming to carry its Chinese volume model into Europe. The Li 6 will make its European debut at the Paris Motor Show on Oct. 12 and launch on Oct. 28, as Li Auto seeks to turn a domestic hit into a global one. The main test will be whether the five-seat SUV can match its strong China sales in the European market.