Li Auto i6 Autopark Failure Incident and Official Response

In July 2025, a car owner posted a video showing repeated failures of the Li Auto i6’s automatic parking function in an underground parking lot. The vehicle kept adjusting its reverse trajectory but failed to park successfully, blocking traffic behind it. The video drew widespread attention, with numerous netizens commenting about similar experiences—particularly noting that the automatic parking feature often fails in spaces with pillars or tight clearances. On July 29, Li Xinyang, head of Li Auto’s product line, responded on social media, stating that after communicating with the user, they confirmed an electric bicycle was occupying space behind the car during the incident, obstructing the parking process. He thanked the user for reconstructing the scene and said Li Auto is working closely with its autonomous driving team to optimize parking performance in complex scenarios through the upcoming version 9.1 system update in September, along with improving alerts when parking is obstructed. A Li Auto customer service representative explained that the automatic parking feature requires users to activate “VLA Parking” via the central touchscreen. The system scans for available parking spots and surrounding conditions, initiating parking only when criteria are met. However, if vertical obstacles like pillars are present, the system may fail to detect them accurately, leading to repeated adjustments. Customers encountering such issues are advised to submit dashcam footage and backend data for post-sales analysis. The Li Auto i6 is the company’s second all-electric SUV. It officially launched on September 26, 2025, with a starting price of RMB 249,800. All trims come standard with an 87.3 kWh 5C lithium iron phosphate battery, offering up to 720 km of CLTC-rated range, and are equipped with the AD Max advanced driver-assistance system powered by the VLA Driver large model and the “Li Auto Assistant” AI agent. Prior to its launch, the i6 faced online misinformation campaigns. On September 24, 2025, Li Auto’s legal department reported that an account registered under an IP address in Inner Mongolia had published false claims about the i6 on Toutiao, fabricating issues related to after-sales disputes and battery supply. The company filed a police report the same day. Investigations revealed the account was controlled by an MCN agency affiliated with a tech center, which acquired accounts to generate fabricated content for traffic monetization. Relevant individuals have since received administrative penalties from law enforcement. Additionally, Li Xinyang disclosed on July 27 that the 160,000th Li Auto i6 rolled off the production line that week. Due to a brief disruption in headlight supply in mid-to-late July, production fell short of original plans by approximately 4,000 units. Supply and manufacturing operations have since returned to normal, and the company is working closely with its supply chain to accelerate progress and ensure timely deliveries to customers.