Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) has added a cheaper entry version of the Li i8, seeking to revive persistently weak sales of the all-electric SUV (sport utility vehicle).
The newly launched Li i8 Rear-Drive Long Range starts at 309,800 yuan ($45,630), 30,000 yuan less than the all-wheel-drive high-performance version that was previously the only one on sale, which is priced at 339,800 yuan.
The variant has a single-motor rear-wheel-drive system with maximum power of 250 kW (335 hp) and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds, slower than the 4.5 seconds of the all-wheel-drive version.
Both versions, however, use the same 97.8 kWh ternary lithium 5C fast-charging battery, with the rear-drive model offering 780 km of CLTC range, 60 km more than the all-wheel-drive version.
Its CLTC energy consumption is 13.6 kWh/100 km, below the 14.8 kWh/100 km of the all-wheel-drive version. Both versions can add 500 km of range in 10 minutes of charging.
Li Auto said its supercharging network now covers more than 4,100 stations in China.
There had been signs the entry version was coming. In June, a single-motor Li i8 appeared in a filing catalog from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Apart from the powertrain, the Rear-Drive Long Range is largely identical to the all-wheel-drive version, including dual-chamber air suspension, double-wishbone front and five-link rear suspension, as well as the Nvidia Drive Thor-U assisted driving chip and LiDAR.
Li Auto also introduced limited-time incentives for the Li i8 through August 31, which it said are worth up to 35,750 yuan.
The incentives include 3-year 0-interest or 0-year low-interest financing, a free upgrade to front-row zero-gravity seats valued at 20,000 yuan, and a 10,000 yuan cash discount for existing owners who buy again.
The urgency behind the price cut is clear. The Li i8 delivered just 779 units in June, down 50.19 percent from May and accounting for only 2.52 percent of the company’s total deliveries that month, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
In the first six months of the year, the Li i8 delivered 8,733 units. July delivery figures for the model are not yet available.
By comparison, the smaller Li i6, which starts at 249,800 yuan, has fared far better, with monthly deliveries topping 20,000 units from March through June.
The Li i8 has never found its footing since going on sale. The model was launched on July 29, 2025, initially offered in Pro, Max and Ultra variants starting at 321,800 yuan.
After initial orders fell short of expectations, Li Auto relaunched the model just a week later, dropping two variants and keeping only the Max version at a reduced price of 339,800 yuan.
Deliveries began on August 20, 2025, and monthly sales fell quickly after peaking at 6,719 units in November.
($1 = 6.7889 yuan)
