Li Auto Explains Why It’s Holding Off on Sedans: Clashes with "Home" Design Philosophy

Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, stated that the company is not unwilling to launch sedans; rather, the current sedan form—when attempting to balance interior space and comfort—conflicts with its core pursuit of creating a "home-like" experience. Moreover, raising the sedan’s roofline to enhance space would violate the brand’s design principles regarding vehicle proportions and stance. Li emphasized that Li Auto’s design philosophy centers on external proportions and posture, while prioritizing a "home" experience inside the cabin—where proportion forms the skeleton, and "home" embodies the soul. Currently, the Li i-series and MEGA models aim to explore new forms for the BEV (battery electric vehicle) market, while the L-series develops an original design language within a classic proportional framework—such as eliminating the traditional grille, adopting an integrated Star Ring light strip, and shortening the front overhang. The newly launched L9 Livis is seen as the most complete embodiment of this philosophy, featuring proportions and stance akin to top-tier luxury vehicles, along with dual-tone paint schemes and more advanced craftsmanship. Li also noted that Eastern culture holds deeply rooted emotional connections to the concept of "home." From the i6’s “elevated sense of ease” to the L9 Livis’s “luxurious sense of ease,” Li Auto consistently strives to deliver an immediate “right feeling” the moment users step inside—the sense that every element is perfectly positioned and presented in just the right way. He pointed out that many large, bloated vehicles suffer primarily from imbalanced proportions. Additionally, Li previously mentioned that the company’s current product lineup—comprising range-extended SUVs and pure-electric MPVs—has the market potential to support annual revenue of RMB 300 billion. Once this scale is achieved, Li Auto will decide whether to introduce sedans and MPVs priced between RMB 200,000 and RMB 500,000 based on market demand and its overseas expansion strategy in regions such as Asia and Europe.