Volkswagen Launches EA211 Range Extender; Li Auto Exec Mocks It as "Outdated Tech"

SAIC Volkswagen recently announced that its first EA211 "Golden Range Extender" has officially rolled off the production line and will be installed on the upcoming ID.ERA9X model, which is set to open for pre-orders at the end of March. Built upon the 1.5T EVO II engine, this range extender highlights six key advantages, including compact size, high efficiency, and low noise. Notably, the interior design of the new vehicle has drawn comparisons to Li Auto models. In response, Li Auto executive “Hard Brother” posted a sarcastic comment on Weibo, calling Volkswagen’s technology “outdated, environmentally unfriendly, and limited in potential.” This exchange stems from a long-standing divergence in technical approaches between the two companies: back in 2020, Volkswagen publicly criticized range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) technology as backward, while Li Auto successfully propelled REEV into the mainstream market with the popular Li ONE and subsequent L-series models. Volkswagen’s recent entry into the range-extended segment has now drawn significant industry attention.