Li Auto announced that its pure electric SUV i6 will be named Li 6 overseas, and will make its European debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026. It plans to start sales in the fourth quarter of 2026, with specific markets, pricing, and channels not yet announced. In Europe it will focus on pure electric vehicles, while selling extended-range SUVs in the Middle East and Central Asia, and is considering launching the L6 in the UK due to tariff differences between the UK and the EU. Domestic deliveries in August were 37,679 units, up 32.1% year-on-year.
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Li Auto's first European model will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. The company announced on September 10 that the overseas name of its all-electric SUV i6 will be Li 6, with European sales planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. As of press time, the first European markets to be entered, local pricing and channel arrangements have not been announced. Li Auto said it will disclose its global product lineup and European business plan during the Paris Motor Show.
European debut: timetable clear, details pending
Based on information disclosed so far, the European launch is divided into two milestones: the debut at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, and the start of sales in the fourth quarter of 2026. If the plan proceeds on schedule, Europe will become another sales region Li Auto adds within 2026.
On the product side, the i6 launched in China in September 2025, measures 4,950 mm in length, and is offered in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations; the rear-wheel-drive version in the Chinese market is equipped with an 87.3 kWh battery and has a CLTC range of 720 km. The specific configuration and pricing of the overseas version have not yet been announced.
"Selling BEVs in Europe, EREVs in the Middle East and Central Asia"
Li Auto's overseas product division of labor is already relatively clear: it sells all-electric models in Europe, and L-series extended-range SUVs in the Middle East and Central Asia. Its all-electric product line includes the i6 and i8 SUVs and the Mega MPV; the L-series extended-range SUVs include the L6, L7, L8 and L9.
There has already been activity in the Middle East market. On September 3, Li Auto launched the new L9 in Dubai, after previously completing introductions in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Extended-range models are relatively less dependent on charging infrastructure and are a better match for the refueling conditions in some emerging markets; Europe's all-electric consumer environment and policy framework, by contrast, follow a different logic.
Channels and tariffs: the UK and EU markets considered separately
In terms of channel building, Li Auto is seeking dealers in EU markets such as Germany and the Netherlands. According to CarNewsChina sources, the relevant negotiations are still ongoing.
Tariff differences are seen as one variable in market selection. According to Autocar, because the UK does not impose the EU-level countervailing duties, Li Auto is considering launching the L6 in the UK. The EU's countervailing measures against China-made EVs and the UK's tax system are not consistent, which creates differences in the cost structure of the same company across different European markets.
On September 10, Li Auto reached a partnership with the 2026 Solheim Cup held in the Netherlands, providing 20 i6 vehicles to transport players and VIP guests, and displaying the Mega all-electric MPV on site. Li Auto called the partnership the official starting point of its European expansion.
Domestic base: August deliveries end three consecutive declines
The pace of overseas expansion is cross-referenced with domestic delivery performance. In August, Li Auto delivered 37,679 vehicles, up 32.1% year on year, ending three consecutive months of year-on-year declines. Cumulative deliveries in the first eight months were 261,619 vehicles, down 0.6% year on year.
In terms of structure, the i6 is the current sales pillar. In the first eight months, the i6 sold 152,842 vehicles in China, accounting for 59% of Li Auto's domestic sales. This also means that the acceptance of the Li 6 in the European market will, to a considerable extent, affect the space for its overseas incremental growth.
Competitor pace: Xiaomi plans to enter Germany in 2027
The pace of Chinese automakers entering Europe is accelerating. Xiaomi plans to sell cars in Germany and other European markets starting in 2027. At the IFA show in Berlin in September, Xiaomi signed memorandums of understanding with eight German dealer groups, including Emil Frey and LUEG, to prepare sales and after-sales networks.
Li Auto has not yet announced the specific partners and store formats for its European channels. Until more information is disclosed at the Paris Motor Show, its European business remains largely at the level of timetables and partnership intentions.
