Li Auto Denies Store Closure Rumors: Plans Expansion Through 2026, Focusing on Tier-1 Cities and Prime Locations

Li Auto recently explicitly denied rumors of "closing 100 stores" during its 2025 earnings conference call. President Ma Donghui stated that the company is only making routine adjustments—replacing a small number of underperforming stores—as part of normal operational optimization, not a large-scale downsizing. The company’s store expansion plan for 2026 remains unchanged, adhering to a “quality over quantity” strategy, with new stores primarily located in core commercial districts and premium auto malls in higher-tier cities. Li Auto noted that its channel network in lower-tier cities is already relatively mature, and future efforts will focus on strengthening coverage in higher-tier cities in line with the sales pace of its battery electric vehicle (BEV) models. Additionally, Li Auto launched a “Store Partnership” program in March, under which store managers will fully participate in site selection evaluations and assume overall operational responsibility, aligning authority with accountability.