Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ: LI) has set a goal of delivering more than 8,000 units of its new i8 battery‑electric SUV by the end of September 2025 and aims to surpass 10,000 deliveries before China’s National Day holiday.

The plan was announced on 13 August 2025, just weeks after the i8’s market launch, with the company promising that first batch deliveries will begin on 20 August.

The compressed schedule is intended to reassure prospective buyers following a bumpy rollout and to avoid a repeat of the failed Mega MPV launch in 2024, when Li Auto’s first battery‑electric vehicle (BEV) missed sales targets and drew criticism for its styling and marketing.

Source: Li Auto

The i8 officially debuted on 29 July 2025 in Beijing as Li Auto’s second all‑electric model. Early reception was tepid: within days of the reveal, the company faced a torrent of negative comments on Chinese social media.

Critics described the vehicle’s styling as more minivan‑like than SUV and questioned the credibility of a crash‑test video shown at the launch. The video depicted the 2.6‑ton i8 colliding with an 8‑ton truck and emerging nearly unscathed, while the truck flipped forward.

The clip led to accusations of unfairly implicating Dongfeng’s Chenglong trucks in a safety comparison, prompting apologies from Li Auto, the truck maker and the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute.

This controversy came just a year after Li Auto’s Mega MPV rollout triggered similar public‑opinion backlash.

The poor initial reception compelled Li Auto to relaunch the i8 within a week. The company simplified the lineup from three trim levels to a single Max configuration and lowered the price by 10,000 yuan.

It also introduced a “lifestyle package” with optional white pearl paint, grey interior and a rear entertainment screen, noting that 89 % of buyers opted for the screen and 33 % chose 21‑inch wheels.

In its statement, Li Auto said that more than 98 % of customers had already chosen the Max and Ultra variants, making the Pro version redundant.

Deliveries will still start on 20 August, and the company expects to surpass 8,000 units by the end of September. For comparison, the Mega MPV was launched in March 2024 with internal targets of 8,000 units per month, but actual monthly deliveries reportedly fell below 1,000.

Li Auto positions the i8 as a family‑oriented SUV that combines the brand’s experience with range‑extended models and lessons learned from the Mega.

The company highlighted that the i8’s rear styling borrows from the L series range‑extended crossovers, featuring wide sculpted fenders, a single taillight unit and a simple bumper.

This contrasts with the Mega’s one‑box MPV profile, which many consumers viewed as ungainly. Li Auto CEO Li Xiang explained that the i8 merges design elements of sport utility vehicles, minivans and sedans.

The slanted bonnet, split headlamp units, roof‑mounted LiDAR sensor and flush door handles further emphasise a more conventional SUV aesthetic.

Source: Li Auto

With dimensions of 5,085 mm length, 1,960 mm width, 1,740 mm height and a 3,050‑mm wheelbase, the i8 is longer and taller than a Tesla Model X and boasts a drag coefficient of 0.218 Cd.

The i8 is built on Li Auto’s 800 V high‑voltage platform and uses dual permanent‑magnet motors (150 kW front, 250 kW rear) for a combined output of 400 kW (536 hp).

The SUV accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 180 km/h. Battery options include a 90.1 kWh ternary lithium pack for 670 km (c. 416 miles) CLTC range and a 97.8 kWh pack extending range to 720 km (c. 447 miles).

Thanks to a 5C charging architecture, Li Auto claims the i8 can add 500 km of range in 10 minutes at the company’s 16,000‑pile charging network.

An adaptive air suspension and continuous damping system allow ride‑height adjustments of 65 mm, while a double wishbone front and five‑link rear suspension uses aluminum arms and hydraulic bushings.

Safety features include nine airbags, automated emergency steering assisted by the roof‑mounted LiDAR, and Li Auto’s Vision‑Language‑Action (VLA) AI model for driver assistance.

Inside, the i8 adopts a 2+2+2 seating configuration with 2 captain’s chairs in the second row. The interior length of 3,514 mm provides more third‑row legroom than Li Auto’s L9 extended‑range model.

Highlights include dual 15.7‑inch infotainment screens, ambient lighting, a built‑in refrigerator and Li Auto’s “Lixiang Tongxue” AI assistant.

Optional features such as massaging seats and a 21.4‑inch ceiling‑mounted display differentiate trim levels. The i8’s roof‑mounted LiDAR and sensors support Level 2+ driver assistance functions; the company has not yet announced plans for Level 3 autonomy.

Source: Onvo

The i8 enters the market at a time when competition in China’s premium SUV segment is intensifying. Models like NIO’s Onvo L90 (NYSE: NIO) recently launched with more competitive pricing.

Li Auto priced the i8 Pro at 321,800 yuan (c. $44,800), the Max at 349,800 yuan (c. $48,700) and the Ultra at 369,800 yuan (c. $51,500). The price cut after the relaunch brings the remaining Max configuration down to 339,800 yuan (c. $47,300).

The company also offers a 10,000‑yuan discount voucher and added audio gift to incentivise orders. These incentives echo the sales strategy for the i8’s extended‑range siblings.

Looking ahead, Li Auto’s ability to meet its i8 delivery target will be a critical test of its move into pure battery‑electric vehicles. The company learned from the Mega’s failure, adjusting the i8’s design and lineup, and has publicly set a manageable delivery goal.

With a robust spec sheet, improved styling and faster charging, the i8 could help Li Auto compete more effectively against rivals such as BYD (HKG: 1211) and XPeng (NYSE: XPEV) while demonstrating the brand’s transition from extended‑range to fully electric drivetrains.

Whether the model can overcome early controversy and achieve its volume targets will be closely watched by investors and consumers alike.

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