Li Auto, one of China's biggest makers of premium family SUVs, plans to bring its cars to the UK in autumn 2027. The brand confirmed its European plans at the Paris Motor Show, where the Li 6 electric SUV made its debut ahead of sales in Norway and the Netherlands in early 2027.
Li Auto's UK launch: what has been confirmed
Nestor Wu, Li Auto's head of international business, told Autocar that the UK is next after the first two European markets and that sales should start in autumn 2027, around the third quarter. He said the UK range will be aimed squarely at families and will include both battery-electric and range-extender models. That has worked for the brand in China, and he expects it to work in Britain too.
Several key details are still missing. Li Auto has not said which model will lead the UK launch, and Wu indicated it will probably not be the Li 6. There are no UK prices, no right-hand-drive specifications and no word on whether the brand will sell directly, through dealers or through an importer. Elsewhere, Li Auto uses subsidiaries, dealer networks or exclusive distributors depending on the market, so all three options remain open for Britain.
The Paris debut and the Li 6
The car shown in Paris on 12 October was the Li 6, the European name for the i6 electric SUV sold in China. It is a five-seat family SUV on an 800V platform. Li Auto quotes WLTP ranges of 640km (about 398 miles) for the rear-wheel-drive version and 560km (about 348 miles) for the four-wheel-drive version, and a 10–80% charge in around 10 minutes using its own 5C battery. Other features include dual-chamber air suspension, adaptive dampers, a powered front boot, a fridge that can also heat, built-in Spotify and Apple CarPlay.
The i6 has been a strong seller at home, with more than 190,000 deliveries in China in its first year. An updated 2026 version goes on sale in China on 28 October with a 96kWh battery and Li Auto's own Mach M100 driver-assistance chip. The company says it engineered the car to meet Euro NCAP five-star standards, but it will not be crash-tested until after the European launch.
The timetable has already slipped once. In August, Li Auto was aiming to start European sales in the last quarter of 2026. That has now moved to the first quarter of 2027, so a UK date of autumn 2027 should be treated as a target rather than a firm promise.
How a range-extender differs from a plug-in hybrid and an EV
Range-extender cars (often called EREVs or REEVs) are Li Auto's core technology, and they work differently from most of the plug-in hybrids already on sale in Britain.
- Battery EV: a large battery and electric motors, no engine. You need to charge it.
- Plug-in hybrid (PHEV): a smaller battery plus a petrol engine that can drive the wheels, alone or with the motor.
- Range-extender (EREV): electric motors always drive the wheels. A petrol engine acts only as a generator, topping up the battery when it runs low.
In practice, an EREV drives like an EV all the time, with no gear changes and smooth, instant torque, and has a battery big enough for most daily journeys. The engine runs only on long trips. For example, Li Auto's L6 in China has a 51kWh battery, around 150 miles of electric range on the Chinese WLTC test, and a 1.5-litre turbo petrol generator. It is not yet confirmed for the UK.
Britain hasn't had good experiences with range-extenders. The BMW i3 REx found a small group of fans, while Mazda's rotary-engined MX-30 R-EV struggled to sell. For tax purposes, range-extenders in the UK are usually classed as plug-in hybrids, so they do not get all the benefits that pure EVs get, which matters for company car drivers.
Rivals UK buyers can already choose
The closest existing rival is the Leapmotor C10, which is sold in the UK as an electric car and as a range-extender. The range-extender version costs £36,500, has a 28kWh battery, and Leapmotor claims up to 90 miles of electric range and more than 600 miles in total.
If you want an electric family SUV, the Li 6 is likely to compete with the Tesla Model Y and BMW iX3, as well as Chinese rivals such as the Xpeng G6, BYD Sealion 7 and MG IM6. Among plug-in hybrids, the BYD Seal U DM-i and Jaecoo 7 SHS-P have sold well, and long-range seven-seat models like the Jaecoo 8 SHS target the same families Li Auto wants to win over.
Why Li Auto is coming now
Chinese brands are growing fast in the UK: they took 23% of the market in September, and BYD had its biggest UK month ever, largely thanks to plug-in hybrids. Li Auto also faces a slower home market. Its September deliveries fell 6.3% year on year to 31,817, and deliveries from January to September were slightly down at 293,436.
The company has been preparing its move abroad for some time. It opened an R&D centre in Munich in January 2025, launched the L9 in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the UAE in 2026, and plans at least one new European model a year from 2027 to 2029. A spare-parts centre, roadside assistance and a customer call centre are due to open in the Netherlands in December. Li Auto joins other newcomers such as Xiaomi, which is also aiming for Europe in 2027.
What happens next
UK policy could still shape the launch. Range-extenders can be sold new until 2035, and the government is reportedly considering adjusting the ZEV mandate, including how plug-in hybrids from new brands count towards it. Before autumn 2027, Li Auto needs to name its first UK model, confirm right-hand drive, set prices and set up a sales and service network. Until then, buyers can see what Chinese brands already offer in our full guide to cheapest Chinese EVs.
EV vs plug-in hybrid vs range-extender
| Battery EV | Plug-in hybrid | Range-extender | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What drives the wheels | Electric motor | Engine and/or motor | Electric motor only |
| Petrol engine | None | Drives wheels | Generator only |
| Battery size | Large | Small to medium | Medium to large |
| UK example | Leapmotor C10 | BYD Seal U DM-i | Leapmotor C10 REEV |
FAQ
When will Li Auto launch in the UK?
Li Auto plans to start UK sales in autumn 2027, around the third quarter, after launching in Norway and the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2027.
Which Li Auto models will come to the UK?
No UK models are confirmed yet. The range will include electric and range-extender family cars, but Li Auto has said the Li 6 is probably not the car that will lead the UK launch.
What is a range-extender electric car?
It is an electric car with a petrol engine that works only as a generator to recharge the battery. The wheels are always driven by electric motors, unlike a plug-in hybrid, where the engine can drive the wheels.
How much will Li Auto cars cost in the UK?
UK prices have not been announced. Li Auto positions itself as a premium brand, and the Li 6 is expected to compete with the Tesla Model Y and BMW iX3.
