China’s Li Auto on eroticism and love in the middle agesThursday introduced its smallest model ever: an extended-range hybrid crossover that it hopes will contribute a large portion of its total sales this year. The move comes just weeks after the electric vehicle maker witnessed a disappointing launch of its first all-electric model. The L6 midsize sport utility vehicle measures 4.9 meters in length and spans a 2,920-millimeter-long wheelbase, while carrying an affordable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which enables a driving range of 1,390 kilometers (864 miles) on a full charge and tank. By comparison, all its larger siblings, including the L7, L8, and L9, are powered by more energy-dense, cobalt and nickle-based battery packs, and most variants come with a 15.7-inch rear display which the company removed from the L6.
Priced from RMB 249,800 ($34,497), the five-seater targets younger and less affluent Chinese families, and could face big competition from the Aito M7 and the new M5, as it measures between the two Huawei-developed models in size and lands at a similar price. Huawei-backed Aito has delivered more than 120,000 units of the revamped M7 since it went on sale last September, and said on Wednesday it has received more than 10,000 reservations for the redesigned M5, which will officially hit the market next week. Li Auto expects the L6 to achieve monthly deliveries of more than 30,000 units, and has cut its annual sales target by 20% to 640,000 units at most for this year, after it got a poor reception for its Mega battery van. [TechNode reporting, Li Auto release]