Gasgoo Munich- "I've basically kept my mouth shut lately." On March 10, Li Xinyang, Li Auto's product line head, ended his silence of several months. In an open letter of apology, he stated that he chose to remain silent because, without resolving supply chain issues and delivering vehicles to owners, any explanation would have carried little weight.
For the past three months, Li and his team have focused on supply chain challenges, monitoring every detail of the production increase. He is now delivering a clear signal: production capacity for the Li Auto i6 has caught up with demand, and the pace of deliveries is accelerating.
Li revealed in the letter that i6 deliveries reached 15,000 units in December and nearly 17,000 in January. Even in February, when the Lunar New Year holiday reduced the number of production days, deliveries reached 16,000. This indicates that daily output has reached a new high.
More importantly, the backend system has been updated: estimated delivery times for the vast majority of pending orders have been moved forward. For owners facing long wait times, this news provides significant relief.
Li Auto i6 Gains Traction
The market trajectory of the Li Auto i6 can be described as a slow start followed by rapid growth. As Li Auto's second pure electric SUV, the i6 received limited attention at launch, with some observers adopting a wait-and-see approach. The previous i8 model did not perform well, and the pure EV segment is highly competitive; rivals such as the Tesla Model Y and Xiaomi YU7 had already established an early lead.
However, as word-of-mouth spread, the i6 gained momentum. Sales data shows that in December, monthly sales volume exceeded 10,000 units for the first time, pushing the model into the five-digit range. This performance is supported by strong product capabilities.
Image Source: Li Auto
One owner shared that he originally planned to purchase a commuter car costing around 100,000 yuan. However, the i6's launch incentives altered his decision. A 10,000-yuan discount, complimentary double-chamber air suspension and soft-close doors, an 87-kilowatt-hour CATL battery, an NVIDIA DRIVE Thor-U chip, and the Li Auto AD Max driver-assist system combined to make the i6 a compelling offer.
In terms of specifications, dimensions of 4,950 × 1,935 × 1,655 mm paired with a 3,000 mm wheelbase and a short overhang design provide a spacious interior. Rear passengers have a 520 mm seat cushion, a flat floor, and an adjustable backrest, all enhancing comfort on long journeys.
Li Auto i6 Sales Performance
The in-car interaction experience remains consistent with the Li Auto family tradition, supporting dual-zone voice recognition, voice interrupt capabilities, and multi-turn dialogue; features tailored for family travel. Notably, Xiaomi founder Lei Jun has publicly endorsed the i6, praising its space and comfort.
Deliveries Lagged Behind
However, as sales increased, delivery bottlenecks emerged. A complaint detailed that a customer who paid a deposit in October 2025 was promised delivery before the 2026 Spring Festival. By January 28, that deadline had passed; Li Auto unilaterally postponed the date by a month without consultation, disrupting the customer's holiday travel plans.
In his letter, Li explained the delay: preparation and ramp-up for core components fell short of expectations, shifting the production schedule for some orders. The primary bottleneck was battery supply. With demand for CATL batteries surging, Li Auto faced the challenge of waiting for battery cells to assemble vehicles. To address this, the company urgently brought in Sunwoda as a second battery supplier and optimized production scheduling, gradually alleviating the pressure.
Image Source: Li Auto
Reactions to Li's apology were mixed. However, as notifications of earlier delivery dates began to arrive, sentiment among some owners started to improve.
Industry insiders remain optimistic about the i6's prospects. Analysts at Huatai Securities note that the model demonstrates strong overall competitiveness in the 250,000-yuan pure electric SUV segment. As production bottlenecks ease, monthly sales are expected to stabilize above 15,000 units, making the i6 a key pillar of Li Auto's pure electric business.
Meanwhile, Li Auto is accelerating its charging infrastructure construction. Official data shows that by the end of February 2026, more than 4,000 Li Auto supercharging stations were operational nationwide, featuring 22,447 charging piles. This network is gradually alleviating range anxiety for electric vehicles and laying the foundation for the i6's continued market expansion.
