A new brand is entering Europe: its first car features a 96 kWh battery, a range of 640 km, and up to 536 horsepower.

14/10/2026 11:30

Updated to

14/10/2026 11:30

With a market that becomes increasingly competitive, the Chinese continue to focus on Europe. To the already long list of manufacturers, one new player has just introduced itself. Li Auto has chosen the Paris Motor Show to make its entry into Europe. It does so with the Li 6 as its first vehicle, the European version of the Li i6, a five-seater electric SUV aimed at making a big impact.

The choice of the i6 as a Trojan horse is not accidental. The i6 is the brand’s best-selling car in China, with 152,842 units delivered from January to August 2026. It will first arrive in the Netherlands and Norway in the first quarter of 2027, followed by other European markets that have not yet been specified. Other models from this series, such as the Li Auto i8, are expected to follow later.

A large SUV, but without a third row

It measures 4.95 meters in length, 1.935 meters in width, and 1.655 meters in height, with a wheelbase of 3 meters. These are typical dimensions for a large SUV, but Li Auto opts for five seats instead of adding a third row.

Exteriorly, it features semi-hidden door handles and matrix headlights. It also introduces a front trunk that opens with two taps on the hood. Inside, it boasts a 29-inch screen, the same size as that in the new Li L9. The Li Auto 6 aims to position itself as an alternative to other large SUVs such as the BMW X5 or Volvo XC90.

Engine: 800 volts and up to 544 horsepower

The technical foundation is an 800-volt electric architecture designed for 5C charging. When it was launched in China, the brand promised a range of 500 kilometers in just 10 minutes. No maximum power figures or charging times have been disclosed for the European market. The Chinese version is equipped with a 96 kWh NMC battery, though it remains unconfirmed whether the European Li 6 will use the same battery or a different one.

The entry-level version features a single rear motor delivering 340 horsepower. Above that is the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version, which outputs 544 horsepower. In China, this latter model accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 4.5 seconds.

The powered version achieves 780 kilometers in China’s CLTC cycle, which is roughly equivalent to 640 kilometers under Europe’s WLTP cycle. There are no figures available for the all-wheel-drive version’s range. Li Auto claims the vehicle’s handling has been tuned for European roads, though no further details on the chassis have been provided.

What remains in China (for now)

Regarding prices, for reference, the i6 was launched in China in September 2025 at 249,800 yuan, which is about 32,500 euros, but that figure is likely to rise to around 65,000 or 70,000 euros once it hits the Old Continent. In Europe, it will face strong competitors, including the Tesla Model Y. The specifications of the Li Auto 6 are solid and interesting, but the big unknown is the price: it will determine whether the Li 6 becomes a real alternative or remains a niche vehicle.