Beijing-based EV maker Li Auto has unveiled the new Li Auto L9 in China, expanding its premium SUV lineup with two versions, the Ultra and the Livis. Alongside the domestic launch, the company confirmed that an international-exclusive model is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026, as it begins its broader expansion beyond China.
The overseas rollout will start in Central Asia and the Middle East, followed by other international markets. To support that push, Li Auto says the export version has been tailored with region-specific features, including an email-based app login for global users, compatibility with international charging standards, climate-focused durability upgrades, and navigation connected to local mapping and traffic services.
The SUV will also include a localized infotainment platform that receives continuous functionality improvements through over-the-air software updates.
At the center of the top-spec Li Auto L9 is a major upgrade in autonomous driving hardware. The SUV uses four LiDAR sensors and two self-developed 5nm Mach 100 chips, delivering a combined 2,560 TOPS of computing power. That system supports navigation-assisted driving across highways and city streets throughout China, CarNewsChina writes.
The chassis has also been redesigned around new electronic controls. Its 800V active suspension can adjust all four wheels independently, helping reduce front-end dive under braking and minimizing body roll during cornering. Li Auto also added a fully wire-controlled chassis, including steer-by-wire and electromechanical braking. With four-wheel steering, the large SUV achieves a turning radius of about 17.4 feet, making it more maneuverable in dense urban areas.
Powering the new SUV is Li Auto’s third-generation 1.5-liter turbocharged range extender, paired with a dual-motor intelligent all-wheel-drive system. Together, the setup produces 563 horsepower and 524 lb-ft of torque, giving the large SUV performance figures closer to a sports sedan than a family vehicle.
The extended-range system allows the L9 to combine electric driving with gasoline backup for longer distances, while maintaining strong acceleration. Li Auto says the SUV can go from 0 to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, putting it among the quicker vehicles in the full-size luxury SUV segment.
The Li Auto L9 is equipped with a 72.7 kWh battery pack, supporting a balance between electric-only driving and extended-range operation. Under CLTC testing conditions, it delivers an estimated 261-mile all-electric range and a total combined range of roughly 1,025 miles, positioning it as a long-distance-oriented luxury SUV.
Charging performance is also a key upgrade. The model supports 5C ultra-fast charging with peak power up to 420 kW, enabling a 10% to 80% charge in about 10 minutes under ideal conditions.
Efficiency has also improved when operating in hybrid mode: fuel consumption in WLTC conditions with a depleted battery drops to approximately 29.4 mpg, representing nearly a 20% improvement over the previous generation.
Sales at Li Auto have been under pressure over the past 12 months, with year-on-year declines persisting across much of the period, signaling a tougher market backdrop. The company is also encountering stronger competitive intensity in the range-extended EV segment, where rivals are accelerating product rollouts and pricing competition is becoming more pronounced.
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Bojan Stojkovski is a freelance journalist based in Skopje, North Macedonia, covering foreign policy and technology for more than a decade. His work has appeared in Foreign Policy, ZDNet, and Nature.
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