China's Li Auto consolidates electric SUV lineup one week after launch
Li Auto
said on Tuesday it has replaced three variants of its
i8 electric SUV
with a single version priced at 339,800 yuan ($47,300), a week after the line-up's launch on July 29.
The unusual move came as the EV maker's deliveries fell for the second straight month amid a bruising price war in the world's largest auto market.
The updated version will be based on the previous i8 Max's configuration, which include a 720-km range, and be 10,000 yuan cheaper than the Max's 349,800 yuan price tag, Li Auto said in a post on social media WeChat.
The company cited consumer complaints over "slightly complicated car variants" for its decision to streamline its offerings.
In China, though, it has been common for automakers to offer new car models with three different versions, such as Xiaomi's SU7 sedan and YU7 SUV.
Li Auto's new six-seater is its second pure electric model. The pioneer in
extended-range EVs
introduced its
Mega multi-purpose vehicle
in March 2024.
Li Auto's car sales fell 39.7 per cent in July from a year earlier, deepening a 24.1 per cent drop in June.
Li Auto and
BYD
are the only two
Chinese EV makers
with full-year profitability.
BYD said on Monday that its vehicle production fell 0.9 per cent in July from a year earlier, ending a 16-month growth streak, while sales rose just 0.6 per cent.
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