Li Auto to launch next-gen Mega MPV on September 2 with upgraded cabin, smart driving hardware

• Li Auto’s CEO said the next-generation Mega MPV will feature an interior distinct from all the company’s other models.
• Li Mega deliveries fell 63.1% year-on-year to 3,179 units from January to July.

Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) will launch the next-generation Li Mega on September 2, bringing another round of upgrades to its flagship electric MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) as it seeks to revive persistently weak demand.

The company announced on Wednesday that the launch event will begin at 7:30 pm Beijing Time on September 2, calling the vehicle a “next-generation mobile home.”

Li Auto founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang made original design a central theme of the update.

Li said on Weibo on Wednesday that the Li Mega showcases original Chinese automotive design to the world, with its distinctive appearance reflecting the company’s commitment to originality.

Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) have already surpassed some overseas products in functionality, but Chinese automotive designs are still often perceived as imitations of classic models, he said.

The Li Mega’s streamlined body helps reduce drag, extend range and improve cabin quietness while giving the vehicle greater visual distinction, according to Li.

While retaining the existing exterior design direction, the next-generation Mega will feature changes to its interior. Li said its cabin will be distinct from those of all other Li Auto models.

In living-room mode, the vehicle will add a main light covering the entire rear cabin, providing better illumination for in-car entertainment and face-to-face conversations among family members.

Before the roll-out, a vehicle filing published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in June had already revealed key changes to the updated Mega.

The model in the filing is the Home version, which features new semi-hidden door handles and additional side-facing and rear-facing solid-state LiDAR units, bringing the vehicle’s total LiDAR count from 1 to 4.

Images accompanying the filing show that the vehicle will adopt a full-width integrated display. Its cabin layout will also take cues from the all-new Li L9 SUV (sport utility vehicle).

The vehicle measures 5,355 mm in length, 1,965 mm in width and 1,850 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,300 mm. It is 5 mm longer than the current model, while its other key dimensions remain unchanged.

The model retains a 7-seat 2/2/3 configuration. Its third-row seats can be folded and flipped forward by 85 degrees, increasing the cargo area’s longitudinal length from 680 mm to 1,066 mm.

The next-generation Li Mega uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, with the front and rear motors producing 155 kW and 258 kW, respectively. Its top speed is 200 km/h.

The vehicle will use a ternary lithium-ion battery supplied by CATL (HKEX: 3750). The filing did not disclose its battery capacity, driving range or charging performance.

The challenge for the update is winning back buyers. Li Mega deliveries fell 88.1% year-on-year to 336 units in July, accounting for just 1.1% of Li Auto’s deliveries that month.

From January to July, Li Mega deliveries fell 63.1% year-on-year to 3,179 units, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

Monthly Li Mega deliveries reached a record 3,277 units in September 2025, but a vehicle caught fire the following month, prompting a recall involving 11,411 units.

Monthly Li Mega deliveries have remained below 1,000 units since November 2025. The next-generation model will test whether its original design, stronger smart driving hardware and cabin upgrades can help Li Auto revive demand.

Li Auto is attempting to counter fierce domestic competition by expanding its overseas footprint.