Li Auto October Deliveries Fall 8.63% Year on Year

Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) delivered 29,025 vehicles in October 2026, representing an 8.63% decline year on year and marking its second consecutive month of annual delivery decreases. The Chinese automaker is simultaneously accelerating updates to its battery electric vehicle lineup and expanding the adoption of technologies developed in-house. The October performance also reflected a month-on-month decline, with deliveries falling 8.78% from 31,817 vehicles in September to their lowest monthly level since February 2026, when the company delivered 26,421 vehicles.

During the first 10 months of 2026, Li Auto delivered 322,461 vehicles, down 1.96% year on year. This represented a widening of the cumulative decline from 1.25% recorded during the first nine months. As of October 31, the company's cumulative deliveries since its inception had reached 1,862,676 vehicles, providing a broader measure of its vehicle delivery performance since entering the market.

Despite the overall monthly decline, Li Auto reported that deliveries of the latest-generation Li Mega exceeded 3,000 units in October. The flagship battery electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) was launched on September 2, featuring a price reduction and hardware upgrades intended to strengthen customer demand. The model's October performance indicates continued sales activity for the updated MPV as the company develops its battery electric vehicle portfolio.

Li Auto also introduced the 2026 Li i6 on October 28 and began customer deliveries the following day. The updated five-seat battery electric SUV received several hardware and cabin enhancements, including an in-house assisted-driving chip and a new battery. Its official starting price remained unchanged at 249,800 yuan ($37,210). However, customers purchasing the vehicle on or before November 30 could access introductory benefits that reduced the effective price to 239,800 yuan.

The updated Li i6 comes standard with the Mach M100 assisted-driving chip and a 96-kWh Lianshan 5C lithium iron phosphate battery. These upgrades increase the CLTC driving range of the rear-wheel-drive version to 780 kilometers (approximately 485 miles). The combination of an internally developed assisted-driving processor and a high-capacity battery highlights the company's approach to incorporating proprietary technologies into its battery electric vehicles while retaining the model's existing official starting price.

Li Auto product line head Li Xinyang said on October 30 that cumulative production of the Li i6 had reached 200,000 units. The company plans to increase monthly production capacity to 20,000 units in November, followed by another capacity increase in December. Li Xinyang also stated that the waiting period for a new Li i6 order was seven to eight weeks at the time. The updated model's delivery performance and planned production expansion will therefore be important developments to monitor in the company's battery electric vehicle operations.

Beyond vehicle launches, Li Auto introduced its Lianshan battery, Lianshan electric drive system and associated battery warranty program during October. These initiatives expand the company's use of internally developed core components across its vehicle portfolio. The company also plans to begin rolling out its OTA 9.2 software update in November. The update is scheduled to introduce the upgraded Mach VLA 2.5 and several refinements to its cockpit AI agent features, extending the company's technology development into vehicle software and the in-cabin experience.

Li Auto's retail, after-sales and charging infrastructure also continued to expand. At the end of October, the company operated 481 retail stores across 159 cities in China, alongside 527 service centers and authorized service shops covering 217 cities. Its charging network comprised 4,206 supercharging stations with 23,163 charging stalls nationwide. Compared with the end of September, the network increased by 18 stations and 86 charging stalls, extending the infrastructure supporting its vehicle ownership and charging ecosystem.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Li Auto's October performance highlights the importance of balancing near-term delivery performance with product upgrades, manufacturing capacity and proprietary technology development. Although deliveries declined for a second consecutive month year on year, the company is expanding its battery electric vehicle portfolio through the updated Li Mega and Li i6 while increasing its integration of in-house batteries, electric drive systems and assisted-driving technology. The planned Li i6 production expansion to 20,000 units per month in November, followed by another increase in December, will be particularly relevant to its ability to address existing order waiting periods. Continued development of retail, service and charging infrastructure also supports the company's broader battery electric vehicle operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vehicles did Li Auto deliver in October 2026?
Li Auto delivered 29,025 vehicles in October 2026, representing an 8.63% year-on-year decline. Deliveries also decreased 8.78% compared with September's 31,817 units, making October the company's weakest monthly delivery performance since February 2026, when it delivered 26,421 vehicles. The October figures marked a second consecutive month of annual delivery declines. Despite the decrease, the company continued introducing updated battery electric models and expanding its in-house technology portfolio during the month.

How many vehicles did Li Auto deliver during the first 10 months of 2026?
Li Auto delivered 322,461 vehicles between January and October 2026, representing a 1.96% decline compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. The cumulative decline widened from 1.25% during the first nine months of the year. As of October 31, the company's total cumulative deliveries since inception had reached 1,862,676 vehicles. These figures reflect the company's overall delivery performance while it continues updating its battery electric vehicle lineup and expanding its manufacturing and technology capabilities.

What upgrades does the 2026 Li i6 offer?
The 2026 Li i6 features an in-house Mach M100 assisted-driving chip, a 96-kWh Lianshan 5C lithium iron phosphate battery and enhanced cabin features. These upgrades increase the CLTC driving range of its rear-wheel-drive version to 780 kilometers, approximately 485 miles. The model's official starting price remains 249,800 yuan ($37,210), while introductory purchasing benefits available through November 30 reduce the effective price to 239,800 yuan. Li Auto launched the updated SUV on October 28 and began deliveries the following day.

What are Li Auto's production plans for the Li i6?
Li Auto plans to increase the Li i6's monthly production capacity to 20,000 units in November 2026, followed by a further increase in December. Product line head Li Xinyang disclosed on October 30 that cumulative Li i6 production had already reached 200,000 units. He also reported a waiting period of seven to eight weeks for new orders at that time. The planned production increases are intended to expand manufacturing capacity as the company continues delivering the updated battery electric SUV.

What new technologies and software updates is Li Auto introducing?
Li Auto introduced its Lianshan battery, Lianshan electric drive system and battery warranty program in October 2026, expanding its use of internally developed components. The company also plans to begin rolling out its OTA 9.2 software update in November. This update is scheduled to feature the upgraded Mach VLA 2.5 and several refined cockpit AI agent features. Together, these developments extend the company's in-house technology efforts across battery systems, electric propulsion, assisted driving and the vehicle's digital cabin experience.

How large is Li Auto's retail, service and charging network?
At the end of October 2026, Li Auto operated 481 retail stores across 159 cities and 527 service centers and authorized service shops across 217 cities in China. Its supercharging infrastructure included 4,206 stations equipped with 23,163 charging stalls. Compared with the end of September, the company added 18 supercharging stations and 86 charging stalls. These facilities form part of the company's retail, after-sales and charging infrastructure supporting its vehicle operations across the country.