Li Auto to Launch i6 Electric SUV in Europe After Paris Motor Show Debut

The Chinese carmaker is preparing its first regional rollout, using a high-profile sports partnership to build visibility ahead of sales starting in late 2026 

Li Auto will use the Paris Motor Show in October to stage the European debut of its first model for the region, marking a significant step in the Chinese carmaker’s international expansion. Sales are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, with the battery-electric i6 SUV set to be marketed overseas as the Li 6.

The company said it will outline its global product strategy and European business plans during the show. For overseas markets, the i6 is expected to adopt the Li 6 nameplate, giving Li Auto a model designation aligned with its existing SUV range. However, the carmaker has not yet confirmed its initial launch countries, local pricing, or retail and service arrangements for Europe.

Ahead of the Paris debut, Li Auto has begun building visibility in Europe through a partnership with the 2026 Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. Announced on September 10, the agreement sees the brand become an official partner of the women’s team golf event, which runs from September 7 to 13.

As part of the partnership, Li Auto will provide a fleet of 20 Li i6 vehicles for courtesy transport for players and VIP guests. The company is also showcasing the 2025 Li Mega electric MPV in the event’s fan village, using the tournament as an early brand-building platform for its European EV push.

Wu Zuomin, head of Li Auto’s international business, said the company intends to draw on the i6’s performance in China and its forthcoming Paris Motor Show appearance to introduce smart electric vehicles to European families.

The i6 is central to that strategy. Launched in China in September 2025, the SUV measures 4,950 mm in length and is offered with rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. In China, the rear-wheel-drive version uses an 87.3 kWh battery and is rated at 720 km under the CLTC cycle, equivalent to 583 km under WLTP.

The model has become Li Auto’s strongest-selling vehicle at home, with 152,842 units sold in China between January and August, representing 59 percent of the company’s domestic sales over the period.

Li Auto plans to sell battery-electric vehicles in Europe while continuing to focus its L-series extended-range SUVs on markets including the Middle East and Central Asia. Its current line-up includes the L6, L7, L8 and L9 extended-range SUVs, alongside the i6 and i8 battery-electric SUVs and the Li Mega MPV.

Founded by Li Xiang in 2015, Li Auto initially built its business around extended-range SUVs before expanding into fully electric models. The company is listed on Nasdaq, where it went public in 2020, and is often grouped with other Chinese EV makers such as Nio and Xpeng.


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