Li Auto, the Chinese extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) manufacturer, has responded to Tesla’s recent social media taunts with a technical showdown. The move comes about a month after Tesla mocked Li Auto for allegedly lacking real technology and relying on superficial comfort features to attract customers.
In a recent Weibo post, Li Auto announced a range test challenge against Tesla’s Model X SUV using its yet-to-be-launched battery electric vehicle (BEV) model, the Li Mega MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle). The challenge aims to settle the debate sparked by Tesla’s criticism.
Li Auto addressed Tesla’s earlier remarks, stating, “Not long ago, Tesla’s official Douyin account implicitly mocked Li Auto’s refrigerators, color TVs, and big sofas as ‘superficial decoration,’ and that one should buy an EV for the ‘invisible smart manufacturing’ (batteries, motors, and electronic controls).”
The range test, conducted in Hainan, China, involved four car bloggers, two of whom are Tesla owners, and included a new Model X owner. Both the Li Mega and Model X used in the test are dual-motor all-wheel-drive models with battery capacities around 100 kWh and a CLTC range of approximately 700 km.
Despite the Li Mega being an MPV and weighing 2,785 kg compared to the Model X’s 2,373 kg, the former showcased a unique design with a lower drag coefficient of 0.215, resembling a Chinese high-speed rail locomotive. The test route covered 547.2 kilometers out of a planned 616 kilometers.
At the conclusion of the test, the Li Mega had 14 percent battery remaining, indicating a potential range of 636 kilometers, or 89.6 percent of its claimed range. The Tesla Model X had 4 percent charge left, suggesting a real-world range of 570 kilometers, 81.4 percent of the claimed range.
Li Auto also compared charging speeds, noting the Li Mega’s ability to charge from 5 percent to 80 percent in 11 minutes using Li Auto’s 5C charging pile, while the Model X took 30 minutes with Tesla’s V3 Supercharger.
The range test response comes after Tesla’s short video on Douyin, posted on December 29, which critiqued certain features in competitors’ cars as superficial and implied doubts about the safety of Li Auto’s vehicles.
Li Auto is set to officially launch the Li Mega on March 1, with deliveries commencing shortly after. Meanwhile, Tesla, with a plant in Shanghai, continues its production of the Model 3 and Model Y, with the more expensive Model S and Model X not produced in China. The ongoing rivalry between these two prominent electric vehicle manufacturers continues to shape the landscape of the rapidly evolving automotive industry.
