China’s Li Auto to start mass production of its first EV in February

LI AUTO said on Friday (Nov 17) it will start mass production and delivery of its first pure electric vehicle (EV) in February, as the up and coming Chinese automaker bets on fast charging technologies to solve range anxiety for EV users.

The Mega multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), with a waterdrop-shaped front design, is equipped with an 800-volt charging architecture and CATL’s latest Qilin batteries that will enable a driving range of 500 km on a 12-minute charge, the company said.

Li Auto, which started taking pre-orders in China for the new model estimated to be priced under 600,000 yuan (S$114,646), also touted a low air resistance against the car’s motion with its streaming design, which helps to lower the energy consumption and extends the driving range.

The Mega MPV will also be the first model to be produced at Li Auto’s Beijing plant, with a designed capacity of 100,000 units annually.

Founded in 2015, Li Auto currently offers four extended range hybrid sport utility vehicles targeting family users.

The company posted a net income of 2.8 billion yuan in the third quarter and revenue of 34.7 billion yuan. REUTERS