In a recent exchange on social media, Li Auto, a prominent Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has responded to remarks made by Xiaomi’s founder, Lei Jun, regarding the future of extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). Lei Jun had earlier stated that the choice between EREVs and pure electric vehicles (BEVs) is not a matter of technological superiority but rather one of user experience and solving real-world usage scenarios.
EREVs: A User-Centric Approach
Lei Jun, who is also the chairman and CEO of Xiaomi, expressed his belief that EREVs have significant potential. He noted that this perspective is shared by industry peers, citing Li Auto as an example of a company whose EREV models have proven that consumers are willing to purchase well-designed extended-range vehicles.
Li Auto, in turn, echoed this sentiment, amplifying the message on their official channels. The company stated, “Extended range is not a battle of routes, but a product choice that starts from user needs and solves real usage scenarios. We look forward to everyone continuing to do a good job in technology and experience, so that more users can benefit.”
A Recurring Theme for Lei Jun
This is not the first time Lei Jun has publicly endorsed the EREV approach. In July, he previously commented that it’s “not too late” to release EREV vehicles, asserting that the market is far from saturated and indeed holds considerable promise. He pointed to the success of Li Auto’s new generation L6, which has seen consistently strong sales post-launch without negatively impacting the sales of the i6 model, as evidence of genuine and robust demand for EREVs. Lei Jun emphasized that consumers are willing to pay for excellent products in this segment.
Li Xiang Welcomes Xiaomi to the EREV Race
Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, had previously welcomed Lei Jun’s entry into the EREV market. In a social media post, Li Xiang stated, “Warmly welcome Mr. Lei to join the extended-range track, and wish Xiaomi’s Pengcheng great success! The latest extended-range technology is vastly different from early extended-range vehicles. The new Li L9 and L8, as well as the new generation L6 mentioned by Mr. Lei, have received widespread user recognition, proving that users are willing to pay for excellent extended-range products.” Li Xiang also expressed gratitude for Lei Jun’s support, highlighting instances such as Lei Jun purchasing an L6 via live stream, praising the MEGA in a CCTV interview, and recommending the i6 at a press conference.
Upcoming Xiaomi Launch
Xiaomi is preparing to launch its Pengcheng extended-range vehicle, alongside other new products, at its upcoming autumn flagship product launch event. The event, scheduled for tomorrow evening at 7 PM, will also unveil the Xiaomi 18 Fold, a foldable smartphone featuring Xiaomi’s Xuanjie O3 flagship chip, and the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max tablet.
Lei Jun described the launch event as a concentrated showcase of Xiaomi’s technological innovations. He anticipates the event might be lengthy but aims to keep it within a 2-hour and 45-minute timeframe.
