Li Auto Launches 2026 i6: Self-Developed Mach Chip and Lianshan Battery Enter the 250,000 RMB Market Segment
Li Auto integrates its self-developed autonomous driving chip and battery system into its mass-market EV model for the first time, aiming to dilute R&D costs through scale to improve gross margins.
On October 29, Li Auto launched the 2026 model year i6, with the most significant change being the integration of its self-developed Mach M100 autonomous driving chip and Lianshan 5C ultra-fast charging battery into this flagship pure electric vehicle. The company announced that the standard configuration price remains at 249,800 RMB, identical to the 2025 model, with a 10,000 RMB cash discount available during the initial sales period.
The Mach M100 is an automotive-grade chip independently developed by Li Auto, utilizing a 5nm process with a nominal computing power of 1,280 TOPS per unit. The chip was first deployed in higher-end models such as the L9 Livis this year; its entry into the i6 marks Li Auto's move to control the architectural design of its assisted-driving hardware and achieve deep software-hardware co-optimization in the mainstream 250,000 RMB market segment. Meanwhile, the new car features a 96 kWh self-developed Lianshan battery covering key components such as cells, packs, and BMS, increasing the CLTC range of the rear-drive version to 780 kilometers.
For Li Auto, which is accelerating its transition to pure electric vehicles, the i6 carries significant commercial weight. Financial reports show that in the second quarter of 2026, Li Auto recorded a net loss of 1.705 billion RMB, with its automotive business gross margin dropping to 9.4%, a decrease of 10 percentage points from the same period last year. By applying self-developed technologies to the i6, which has accumulated nearly 190,000 deliveries, Li Auto aims to dilute fixed R&D investments through sustained sales volume and improve platform reuse efficiency.
Additionally, Li Auto unveiled its European strategy, planning to enter the European market in the first quarter of 2027, with the i6 (named Li 6 overseas) launching first in Norway and the Netherlands. Li Xiang, founder and CEO of Li Auto, stated that the goal is for the i6 to become the company's best-selling model globally.