23 Daily — According to leiphone.com, Li Auto officially launched the 2026 model of its Li Auto i6 on October 28, priced at 249,800 RMB with a promotional price of 239,800 RMB during the initial sales period. Test drives, reservations, and deliveries commenced simultaneously. Li Auto's Chairman and CEO Li Xiang expressed the company's goal for the i6 to become Li Auto's highest-selling model globally. The 2026 upgrade covers six key areas: lighting, storage, seating, displays, driving range, and chips. Notably, the self-developed Lianshan 5C battery and Mach M100 assisted driving chip are now standard.

A model with a large sales base is now increasingly equipped with Li Auto's self-developed technologies. The second-year mission for the i6 is not only to continue selling cars but also to enable the battery, chip, and algorithms to be tested and validated in everyday user scenarios.

Self-Developed Battery and Chip Expand in Mass Use, Enhancing Range and Driving Assistance

The 2026 i6 is equipped with a 96-kWh Lianshan 5C battery. The rear-wheel-drive variant's CLTC driving range has improved from 720 km to 780 km, while the four-wheel-drive version increased from 660 km to 710 km. Instead of focusing solely on charging speed, the upgrade emphasizes extending the driving distance between two charges — a practical benefit for users without fixed charging access or those frequently traveling long distances.

Li Auto disclosed a live range test in which the rear-wheel-drive model traveled 811.4 km under specific test conditions; however, real-world range depends on variables like temperature, speed, and load. Subsequent factors to watch include winter performance, charging efficiency, and accuracy of remaining battery estimation.

Li Auto also offers first owners a Lianshan battery guarantee plan: if the original battery quality causes self-ignition reaching scrap standards, compensation will be a new vehicle of equal configuration; if collision or chassis damage causes battery fire reaching scrap standards, the difference between insurance coverage and actual compensation will be reimbursed.

Regarding assisted driving, the Mach M100 chip is standard. Concurrently, the Mach VLA 2.5 software update, built on a self-developed 3D ViT vision architecture, will be pushed to Mach intelligent driving platform users via OTA 9.2. The update improves complex traffic scenario judgment and navigation capabilities, such as early detection of buses decelerating on the side, reversing vehicles, and narrow road conditions. The system aims to enable timely slowdowns and natural yielding. Parking has been optimized for extremely tight spots, and a door closure option for remote parking was added.

Enhancements in Daily User Experience to Boost Comfort and Convenience

Beyond core technology upgrades, Li Auto focused on refining everyday user needs. The electric front trunk (frunk) is now standard, supporting voice and double-click open, with improved sealing to block dust, water, and odors, designed for both capacity and ease of use.

Seating improvements include dual full-size zero-gravity front seats with support for a 150-degree recline, 16-way electric adjustment, and 4-way leg rests. The instrument panel position was adjusted to increase foot space during reclining. Massage features expanded from 10 points focusing on the backrest to 18 points covering backrest and seat cushion.

Rear seats now recline up to 140 degrees (up from 125 degrees), add a 67-watt Type-C charging port on the center armrest, and the onboard refrigerator now comes with an electric door opener, supports freezing down to -6°C, and has a removable, washable liner. These changes respond to established needs for resting during parking, rear-seat charging, food storage, and daily cleaning.

High-end Hardware and Optional Packages Cater to Diverse Needs

The new i6 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chip, a 29-inch 6K panoramic screen as standard, with an optional 21-inch 4K rear entertainment screen, running Li Auto's self-developed MindOS. The Snapdragon 8797-powered cockpit supports CarPlay, HiCar, and Carlink, broadening connectivity for various smartphones.

Lighting and chassis receive an air suspension with dual chambers, improved brake pedal feel, steering response, and the next-generation ADB headlights enhance illumination and low-speed cornering assistance.

Optional equipment packages include a 20,000 RMB dual Mach M100 chip set (two chips and three solid-state lidar sensors), a 20,000 RMB dual-motor AWD system delivering 400 kW and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.8 seconds, a 10,000 RMB rear entertainment package, a 6,000 RMB electric trailer hitch, and a 5,000 RMB platinum audio system. Fully equipped, the price reaches 300,800 RMB.

Early buyers before November 30 can select special paint colors for free, and returning first-time Li Auto owners receive the platinum sound system as a gift.

Editor's take: Combining In-house Technology with Product Refinement Offers Startups a Scalable Growth Example

With nearly 190,000 units sold and a net promoter score of 80.2, Li Auto i6 enjoys user recognition across driving, infotainment, comfort, space, design, and safety. The 2026 model integrates self-developed battery and assisted-driving chips into its main sales product, highlighting a strategy of leveraging technology to strengthen product competitiveness.

For startups, this illustrates a developmental path: establish a strong product foundation and market acceptance, then gradually introduce proprietary technology at scale to reduce costs and differentiate products. Verifying this approach involves monitoring real-world performance of new technologies, user satisfaction and repurchase rates, and analyzing the impact of core hardware and software upgrades on business outcomes.