Li Auto Meets Reality: "Li ONE" Opens for Pre-Orders

On April 22, 2016, Xiang Li, founder and CEO of CHJ Automotive, spoke for the first time about CHJ Automotive and its mission to transform urban mobility at Source Code Capital's second annual Ma Hui conference.

Xiang Li, Founder & CEO, CHJ Automotive

2016 Ma Hui Annual Conference Speech

On April 10, 2019, the range-extended electric SUV Li ONE was officially priced and opened for reservations. Test drives would begin in Q3 2019, with deliveries starting in Q4.

Ideals Become Reality

At the April 2016 Ma Hui conference, Li said: "Our SUV uses range-extended electric technology. In urban driving, consumers can run purely on electric power, which is sufficient for their needs — the pure electric range reaches 150–200 kilometers. When they need to drive long distances, the range-extended portion can cover 400 to 500 kilometers, so the total range reaches 600 to 700 kilometers, making it an electric vehicle that everyone can own."

Li noted: "Electric vehicles still have many serious problems right now. I think the number one issue to solve is charging infrastructure, because charging piles remain very difficult to deploy at scale."

On April 10, 2019, the range-extended electric SUV Li ONE was officially priced and opened for reservations — delivering on the vision of electric urban driving, gasoline for long distances, and 800 kilometers of electric-driven range.

Li ONE

The Li ONE features leading range-extended electric technology, delivering the equivalent of 160 kWh of battery capacity through a 40.5 kWh battery pack and 45-liter fuel tank. Through continuous refinement and optimization of its range-extended system, NEDC combined range exceeds 800 kilometers, while the latest EU WLTP cycle yields over 690 kilometers. This extended range, combined with three energy replenishment methods — fast charging, slow charging, and refueling — addresses both range anxiety and charging anxiety.

Through an advanced thermal management system, the Li ONE's winter range degradation is only 5%, validated through winter testing, solving the problem of winter range loss. With electric power for city driving and gasoline for long trips, the electric-driven Li ONE better suits the daily use and travel needs of Chinese families. In terms of performance, the Li ONE uses a front-and-rear dual-motor all-wheel-drive system with maximum output of 240 kW / 326 hp and peak torque of 530 N·m, achieving 0–100 km/h in 6.5 seconds — comparable to a same-class 3.0T six-cylinder vehicle. The Li ONE also offers multiple driving modes including range priority, EV priority, winter mode, mountain road mode, and slippery surface mode, allowing users to select based on actual driving conditions.

Connected Vehicle Architecture as Core System

At the April 2016 Ma Hui conference, regarding connected vehicles, Li said: "We were among the earliest to adopt a dual-system solution of Linux plus Android — ensuring security on one hand, and delivering the best possible apps and user experience on the other. We're very confident in saying we should be the world's first automaker to truly build out a connected vehicle system. Why? Because traditional automakers haven't been able to effectively build connected vehicles. All connected models ultimately have one core element: the account system. Only with this in place can a true connected vehicle ecosystem actually form."

Xiang Li, Founder & CEO, CHJ Automotive

2016 Ma Hui Annual Conference Speech

"The biggest benefit of having connected vehicles is that the entire automotive service model will transform. Once we have the account system, our business model changes. Our vehicle comes in only one configuration — we give users the best configuration and never make them agonize over this choice. Our entire supply chain and inventory become completely different. We can very simply use our data to calculate exactly how many vehicles any store will need the next day, even down to color. So I'm definitely going with a direct sales model."

Li ONE Infotainment System

In April 2019, the Li ONE pioneered a four-screen, full-vehicle voice interaction approach for a more convenient user experience. The four screens are BOE automotive-grade high-definition displays with Corning Gorilla Glass covers, delivering fingerprint-resistant, scratch-resistant, shatter-resistant, and anti-glare functionality for an outstanding in-cabin interactive experience.

The four screens are powered by dual chips and dual systems. The center control screen and passenger entertainment screen run on an automotive-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 820A chip and Android Automotive system, providing rich app experiences including Baidu and Amap navigation, iQIYI, Ximalaya, and online music. The passenger entertainment screen also offers independent Bluetooth audio, allowing passengers to watch shows or listen to music without disturbing the driver. The digital instrument cluster and lower vehicle control screen use a Texas Instruments J6 chip and Linux system, ensuring stable and secure driving information and vehicle controls.

Through four sets of arrayed high-sensitivity microphones inside the vehicle, the Li ONE enables full-vehicle voice interaction. Passengers in any seat can wake the voice assistant for quick responses to vehicle settings, navigation, music, video, and other needs — making in-cabin interaction more convenient and efficient.

The Li ONE also debuted a "phone Bluetooth key" feature. Using six in-vehicle Bluetooth antennas to precisely locate the owner's phone, the vehicle automatically activates welcome lighting when the owner approaches, enables automatic unlocking when pulling the door handle, and allows starting the vehicle once inside. From then on, users need only carry their phones — goodbye car keys, truly seamless vehicle entry.

Comprehensive Active and Passive Safety

The Li ONE comes standard with an advanced driver assistance system, using the Mobileye EyeQ4 vision recognition solution together with Bosch Group millimeter-wave radar and ultrasonic sensors to provide full-speed-range adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, fully automatic parking, and other assistance functions — all available at delivery. A standard 360° high-definition surround-view camera system further enhances driving safety.

Li ONE

The Li ONE is designed and built to exceed C-NCAP five-star safety standards, using a high-strength steel-aluminum hybrid body and equipped with seven airbags including a driver's knee airbag. For battery safety, dual protection through the battery pack's aluminum alloy housing and high-strength protective beams on both sides exceeds the most stringent U.S. pole-impact test standards, ensuring cell integrity in collisions.

On April 16, 2019, Li Auto made its first appearance at the Shanghai International Auto Show, displaying the Baby Blue limited-edition pearl paint. Li Auto's first five retail centers would open in early May, in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Tianjin, where customers could view vehicles in person. Retail centers in eight additional cities — Wuhan, Chengdu, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Chongqing — would open progressively throughout the year.

More Source Code Capital Portfolio News

Source Code Capital Portfolio Company GalaxySpace Successfully Launches Test Payload!