Li Auto's first electric SUV i8: small MEGA and large model, lower pricing, and larger space

The Li Auto i8 has officially launched, and its market positioning, pricing strategy, and product strength constitute a new evaluation benchmark for investors.

On July 29, Li Auto held a launch event for the Li Auto i8, introducing three models with a price range of 321,800 to 369,800 yuan. Notably, the Li Auto i8 is not only the company's second pure electric product following the MEGA but also its first pure electric SUV, priced similarly to the range-extended Li Auto L8.

Li Auto announced that deliveries of the new vehicle will begin on August 20. Bank of America analysts pointed out that the launch of the Li Auto i8 is a key step in its strategic shift from range-extended to pure electric, and its pricing and product mix will directly challenge the existing market landscape, including the Tesla Model Y and Nio ES8. In terms of specific impacts:

• Aggressive Pricing: The final price of 321,800 to 369,800 yuan is lower than the previously expected price of 350,000 to 400,000 yuan.
• Precise Product Positioning: The i8 establishes a leading spatial advantage in the mid-to-large six-seat SUV segment with a length of 5,085 mm and a wheelbase of 3,050 mm.
• Leading Technical Configuration: Equipped with the NVIDIA Thor-U chip (700 TOPS computing power) and Li Auto's self-developed VLA (Visual Language Behavior) large model architecture, it demonstrates strong hardware and software capabilities in the field of intelligent driving.
• Advanced Charging Network: Before the new vehicle's launch, 3,000 supercharging stations have been established, laying a solid foundation for the promotion of pure electric models.

Mini MEGA: "The King of Space" with Performance and Charging Dual Focus

As Li Auto's first pure electric SUV, the Li Auto i8 bears a striking resemblance to the previous Li Auto MPV model, the MEGA.

(Li Auto's pure electric MPV MEGA)

Li Auto Chairman and CEO Li Xiang stated:

The Li Auto i8 is a smaller version of the MEGA Home, providing an option for users who love the MEGA but have a limited budget.

In fact, whether it’s the sharply angled front and windshield, the split layout of the headlights, or the quickly sloping roofline, the exterior design of the Li Auto i8 indeed mirrors that of the MEGA.

Fortunately, the Li Auto i8 does not adopt the controversial rear design of the MEGA but instead aligns with the rear style of its L series models, featuring a simple through-type taillight that still carries a very distinct brand identity.

(Li Auto i8) In terms of product strength, the Li Auto i8 continues the brand's deep insight into the needs of family users.

As a mid-to-large six-seat pure electric SUV, its body dimensions reach a length of 5085 mm, a width of 1960 mm, and a height of 1740 mm, with a wheelbase of 3050 mm, providing excellent internal space performance compared to competitors.

In the core three-electric system, the i8 has a maximum power of 400 kW and a maximum torque of 660 Nm, allowing it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds.

In terms of batteries, it is equipped with a ternary lithium battery of either 90.1 kWh or 97.8 kWh, with a maximum range of up to 720 km under CLTC conditions. Importantly, the i8 supports 5C super fast charging technology, capable of replenishing 500 km of range in just 10 minutes. Li Auto has established 3,000 supercharging stations and 16,523 supercharging piles across 258 cities in 31 provinces nationwide.

Top-tier Intelligent Configuration: NVIDIA Thor-U and VLA Model Debut

Intelligence is another major highlight of the Li Auto i8.

The new vehicle offers two intelligent driving solutions based on different configurations:

i8 Pro version is equipped with the AD Pro system, featuring the Horizon Journey 6M chip with a computing power of 128 TOPS;

i8 Max and Ultra versions are equipped with the more advanced AD Max system, featuring the NVIDIA Thor-U chip with a computing power of up to 700 TOPS.

In terms of perception hardware, the AD Max version is equipped with 1 LiDAR, 11 cameras, 1 millimeter-wave radar, and 12 ultrasonic sensors, totaling 25 sensors.

More importantly, the i8 will be the first model to integrate Li Auto's self-developed VLA (Vision Language Action) assisted driving architecture, marking the entry of its intelligent driving technology into the era of large models.

Inside the intelligent cockpit, the entire i8 lineup is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip and features two 15.7-inch displays and an AR-HUD, providing a top-notch interactive experience.

Competitive Landscape Analysis: Directly Facing Tesla, Winning with Space and Cost Performance

The market entry of the Li Auto i8 will directly stir the mid-to-large pure electric SUV market. Its main competitors include Tesla Model Y, Nio ES8, XPeng G9, Xiaomi YU7, and BYD Tang L.

However, based on market sales data, the challenges faced by the i8 should not be underestimated.

As of June 2024, the average monthly sales of the Tesla Model Y reached 40,232 units, holding an absolute leading position. In contrast, the average monthly sales of the Nio ES8 were 791 units, and the XPeng G9 was 1,795 units.

Analysis suggests that the Li Auto i8, with its precise "large six-seat" positioning, aggressive pricing, and powerful intelligent and charging systems, is expected to successfully attract a large number of family users in this fiercely competitive segment, becoming another hit for Li Auto in the pure electric field following its range-extended models