Gasgoo Munich- On February 24, 2026, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU ("CCCEU") announced that, following unanimous board approval, Li Auto has joined the organization as a full member and will participate in its automotive working group.
Image source: Li Auto
Headquartered in Brussels, close to the European Union's main decision-making bodies, the chamber represents more than 1,000 Chinese-funded companies operating across Europe and positions itself as a bridge for trade and investment between China and the EU.
From the perspective of industry competition and globalization strategy, joining a representative industry body gives Li Auto a more direct channel to understand European policy and market dynamics, while also opening doors for localized R&D collaboration and partnerships.
Seen in sequence—from registering its first overseas R&D entity in 2024, to establishing a German research center in early 2025, and now joining a core European Chinese business organization—Li Auto's advance into Europe has clearly accelerated.
For a long time, however, the company approached the European market with caution, and at times even hesitation.
In 2023, Li Auto revisited its overseas expansion strategy. While management agreed on a long-term goal of serving international markets, there was still internal debate over the most appropriate route forward.
Previously, Li Auto vehicles reached overseas buyers mainly through parallel exports. As regulatory conditions tightened, monthly volumes fell sharply from peaks of around 4,000 units to just a few hundred, underscoring the limits of relying on informal channels to support long-term global ambitions.
The turning point came in 2025, which Li Auto internally labeled the first official year of its overseas markets. The company reorganized accordingly, creating a dedicated international expansion unit and assigning experienced staff exclusively to global operations.
At the execution level, Li Auto adopted an “R&D first” approach. In April 2024, it registered its first overseas R&D entity in Munich, followed by the launch of a German R&D center in 2025. The center has since built a multidisciplinary team covering styling, power semiconductors, chassis systems, electric drivetrains and regulatory certification, with the goal of developing and testing vehicles in line with European regulations and local requirements.
In parallel, the automaker has been building experience in other overseas regions, including Central Asia and the Middle East, where it has set up direct sales and aftersales service centers in markets such as Kazakhstan, Dubai and Uzbekistan.
For Europe specifically, Li Auto has recently advertised senior sales leadership roles on professional networking platforms, covering locations including Madrid and Warsaw. The postings set a high bar, calling for candidates capable of crafting market entry strategies while demonstrating deep knowledge of local rules on data privacy, antitrust compliance and electric vehicle subsidies.
The emphasis on compliance and localized management talent highlights Li Auto's intent to embed a full operational system within the European market, rather than relying on ad hoc or transitional expansion models.
