Chinese carmaker Li Auto will debut its first European model at the Paris Motor Show in October, with sales planned before the end of 2026. The battery-electric i6 SUV will be sold overseas as the Li 6, the company has confirmed.
What exactly is Li Auto launching in Europe?
The company will present its global product lineup and European business plans at the Paris show. So far, it has not named its first European markets, local prices or sales channel arrangements.
According to Autocar, Li Auto is eyeing the UK for the launch because there are no countervailing tariffs, unlike in the EU. Furthermore, CarNewsChina sources say the company is actively seeking dealers in Germany, the Netherlands and other EU markets.
How has Li Auto begun its European rollout?
On 10 September, Li Auto partnered with the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. The company supplied 20 i6 SUVs to transport players and VIP guests. In addition, it is displaying a Mega electric MPV at the event.
Li Auto described the partnership as the formal start of its European expansion. Moreover, the plan splits its lineup by region. The company intends to sell battery-electric cars in Europe, while its extended-range L-series SUVs go elsewhere.
The L-series consists of the L6, L7, L8 and L9 extended-range SUVs. By contrast, its battery-electric models are the i6 and i8 SUVs and the Li Mega MPV. Recently, Li Auto launched its new L9 in Dubai on 3 September, following earlier introductions in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
What are the specifications of the i6?
The i6 launched in China in September 2025. It measures 4,950 mm long and offers rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions.
The Chinese rear-wheel-drive version has an 87.3 kWh battery. Its range reaches 720 km under China’s CLTC testing cycle, which equals 583 km on the stricter WLTP measure. European buyers should therefore expect figures closer to the WLTP number.
Why now?
The overseas push comes as deliveries return to growth. Li Auto delivered 37,679 vehicles in August, up 32.1 percent year on year. As a result, that ended three consecutive months of annual declines.
Deliveries during the first eight months totalled 261,619 vehicles, down 0.6 percent. Consequently, the European rollout would add another sales region before the year closes. It gives the company a fresh outlet while its home market stays flat.
The i6 is already the brand’s best-selling car. In the first eight months of the year, it sold 152,842 units in China. That accounted for 59 percent of Li Auto’s domestic sales, so exporting it makes clear commercial sense.
Who is behind Li Auto?
Li Auto is a Chinese EV startup founded by Li Xiang in 2015. Initially, it focused on extended-range SUVs before adding battery-electric models to its lineup.
Like Nio and Xpeng, the company is listed in the United States. Indeed, it went public on Nasdaq in 2020, joining a wave of Chinese EV makers seeking foreign capital.
Is Li Auto alone among Chinese brands in Europe?
No. Other Chinese carmakers are also preparing European entries. For example, Xiaomi plans to begin selling cars in Germany and other European markets in 2027.
At IFA Berlin in September, Xiaomi signed memorandums of understanding with eight German dealer groups, including Emil Frey and LUEG. Together, these deals aim to prepare a sales and after-sales service network.
For Li Auto, then, the Paris debut marks a first step rather than a finished plan. Until the company names markets, prices and dealers, the shape of its European business remains open. Nevertheless, the timing shows how quickly Chinese brands are pressing towards the region.
