Gasgoo Munich-Li Auto revealed during its second-quarter earnings call on August 26 that in-house batteries would gradually cover its entire lineup starting in the second half of the year. The company has since released further details on the strategy and its rollout timeline.
Image Source: Li Auto
According to the company, Li Auto began developing its own battery cells in 2020. Its core technology spans the full battery system—including 5C cells, packs, and battery management systems (BMS). By leveraging integrated vehicle design and accumulated expertise in ultra-fast charging, the automaker says it has achieved a competitive edge in quality, safety, and longevity.
Since 2022, the company has also pushed forward with in-house development of its Mach 100. Viewing batteries and semiconductors as critical technological moats for the smart EV era, Li Auto is strategically following the playbook of Apple and Huawei by keeping core technologies in-house.
In-house batteries are already fitted in the L8, L6, and i8, with plans to extend them across the entire portfolio. The fourth-quarter rollout is specific: The initial batch of the new Li Auto MEGA will utilize CATL 5C Ternary Lithium-ion Battery. However, as orders have surpassed expectations and CATL inventory is running low, customers who finalize their orders after 3:00 p.m. on September 7 will be switched to the in-house 5C ternary lithium version, with deliveries slated for November. Meanwhile, the all-new Li Auto i9 is set for a mid-September reveal. Targeting the six-seat family flagship SUV segment, it will launch with CATL batteries before transitioning to in-house cells as production capacity ramps up. The 2026 Li Auto i6 arrives in the fourth quarter, equipped with the in-house 5C battery and Mach 100; reservations open in late September, with deliveries kicking off in early November. Li Auto emphasized that by 2026, it will combine strong product competitiveness with full self-sufficiency in core technologies.
