Li Auto CEO Li Xiang and an executive from SAIC Volkswagen have become embroiled in a public dispute regarding which company's new vehicle holds a technological advantage. The exchange occurred during the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
While visiting the SAIC Volkswagen exhibit, Li Auto CEO Li Xiang was asked to compare the SAIC Volkswagen ID.ERA 9X with the Li Auto L9 Livis. Li Xiang stated directly that the Li Auto L9 Livis is superior by two product generations. He added that if the starting price of the SAIC Volkswagen ID.ERA 9X were under 300,000 yuan, it would still possess strong competitiveness.
These remarks drew a dissatisfied response from SAIC Volkswagen. Li Jun, Executive Director of SAIC Volkswagen's Brand Marketing Operations, responded in a media interview, asserting that Li Auto only leads in terms of pricing and marketing. He did not acknowledge any generational gap between the products. Li Jun also quipped that SAIC Volkswagen would never claim its product is the "best within 5 million yuan."
Li Jun emphasized that, to date, he has not observed any generational lead in Li Auto's products. He pointed out that a demonstration of the "push-up" suspension feature on the Li Auto L9 Livis was unsuccessful. "Therefore, I have not seen the so-called generational gap he mentioned," Li Jun stated. "Currently, there are no revolutionary aspects or features that no one else in the industry has done, so we prefer not to comment excessively."
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