The moment Li Auto's highly anticipated i6 opened for orders, the company's app buckled under the traffic.

Image source: Li Auto APP

The last time we saw a scene this wild was when Apple fans camped out for a new iPhone. The instant the 2026 Li Auto i6 opened its ordering channel, a flood of eager buyers surged into the app all at once. The servers simply couldn't keep up—pages froze and orders failed to go through.

Li Auto didn't wait for layers of internal sign-off or a polished PR statement. Product line head Li Xinyang stepped up to apologize straight away: server capacity had been expanded ahead of launch, but the team had still underestimated how eager customers would be to place orders. The IT crew worked through the night on emergency fixes, and only then did the two channels—ready-to-deliver vehicles and custom builds—gradually come back online.

Image source: Weibo

Many people's first reaction was: here we go again—using a server crash to drum up another sellout narrative. But this time, netizens' impressions were actually pretty favorable. It wasn't a cold, corporate notice; it was the person directly in charge of this model speaking up, being upfront about where things went wrong and how far the fixes had come—and heading off public frustration before it could build. There have been plenty of botched new-car launches, and those willing to face users directly rather than shift blame are rare.

Yours for 239,800 yuan—price unchanged, but the internals get a serious upgrade

So why could a facelifted model crash the app? In a word: the price didn't go up, but what you get is genuinely generous. The comment section was buzzing too—some reveled in the range, air suspension, and seats, while others immediately asked: "They only list what's been added—what about what's been cut?"

Ahead of launch, Li Xiang had already given a blunt rundown of the new i6's upgrades: brighter lights, more convenient storage, more comfortable seats, a larger screen, longer range, and a more powerful chip.

The official guide price remains 249,800 yuan, with a 10,000 yuan early-order discount bringing the locked-in price to 239,800 yuan. In today's pure-electric SUV market, everyone knows how fierce the competition is: the XPeng G9 starts at 248,800 yuan, and the Zeekr 7X long-range version is also 249,800 yuan. Everyone is frantically stacking batteries, competing on range, and comparing chips.

Image source: Xiaoyi Reviews Tech @ WeChat Official Account

Li Auto didn't stubbornly fight rivals to the death on paper specs. Instead, it targeted the family users it knows best. The battery increased from 87.3 kWh to a 96 kWh Lianshan battery, with rear-wheel-drive CLTC range reaching 780 km and four-wheel drive reaching 710 km—the entire lineup now crosses the 700 km mark. Dual-chamber magic carpet air suspension and the self-developed Mach M100 smart driving chip are both standard, with no extra payment to unlock.

But the battery change became the biggest flashpoint of controversy. The old model used CATL, while the new model switched to CALB's Lianshan battery, and the comment section exploded: "Is the self-developed battery a downgrade rather than an upgrade?" "To put it bluntly, procurement switched to self-development to lower costs." Supporters focused on the increased capacity and longer range, while old users trusted CATL's reputation, and in their eyes changing the supplier was a real cutback.

What hits family users the most are still the comfort features they use every day. The two front seats are full-size zero-gravity seats, able to recline up to 150 degrees, with massage upgraded to 18-point backrest plus cushion kneading, and heated leg rests; the second-row backrest can adjust up to 140 degrees and comes with power footrests. The refrigerator supports power door opening and can freeze down to minus 6 degrees; it also adds the long-discussed power frunk, openable by voice, tapping the hood, a button, and several other ways.

The front row now has two full-size zero-gravity seats, with recline angle up to 150°, 16-way power adjustment, and 4-way power leg rest adjustment

A power frunk has been added, and this has also been called one of the biggest improvements by the outside world. For family users, a power frunk is indeed somewhat useful.

Even though the upgrade list is long, doubts have not stopped. Old owners itemized one by one: "Real leather is gone, CATL battery is gone, soft-close doors are gone, the small screen is gone," listing all the cut points. Some also did the math on options: "The Mach chip and streaming entertainment screen still cost an extra 30,000," so fully loading the experience is not cheap.

The configuration versions continue Li Auto's clean approach, without a bunch of versions to confuse people. The base model is complete in one step, with battery, air suspension, smart driving chip, and zero-gravity seats all included. The rest is optional as needed: add 20,000 for four-wheel drive, add 10,000 for the entertainment screen if the rear row often watches videos, and add another 20,000 for dual Mach chips if seeking stronger smart driving.

The battery supplier of the new Li Auto i6 changed to CALB battery, while the previous generation used CATL batteryThe smart driving chip upgraded from the previous generation Nvidia Drive Thor-U 700Tops to Li Auto's self-developed Mach M100 chip (1280TOPS)

Essential needs are fully covered, with advanced features paid for as needed, so there is no need to repeatedly compare configuration tables. Coupled with ready-to-deliver vehicles, a fast delivery can be about one week. For families waiting to buy a car, low price, stock availability, and clear delivery timing make everyone rush at the first moment.

Filling the shortcomings of the old model, the i6 becomes the complete form of Li Auto's Lianshan system

This concentrated outbreak did not come out of nowhere; the i6 itself has a strong foundation. In the first nine months of this year, cumulative sales exceeded 160,000 units, with August alone nearing 17,000 units.

Image source: Electric Travel Autumn KONG

The sales decline in September, to put it plainly, was a gap period during the new-old transition: orders for the old model stopped, the new model was slow to arrive, and a large batch of intended buyers was simply held back until now.

The cockpit chip has been iterated and upgraded from the previous generation 8295P to the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8797 chip, with higher performance and further improved system smoothness

The body dimensions and chassis framework have not changed much, still 4,950 mm long with a 3,000 mm wheelbase, retaining the all-aluminum suspension foundation, with steering and braking feel retuned. There are many visible upgrades: it adopts the same 29-inch 6K full-width screen as the flagship, and the cockpit chip is changed to Qualcomm 8797; the ADB matrix headlights are stronger in brightness, illumination distance, and cornering lighting, with some netizens saying directly, "Only the headlights count as an upgrade; the old model's lights were really not bright," and this pain point has finally been addressed. The small screen on the steering wheel was directly canceled after listening to feedback, with information integrated into the HUD and the large screen; two new paint colors were added, semi-hidden door handles were arranged, and CarPlay, HiCar, and Android connectivity are all supported.

The exterior is also a disaster area of polarization, with the high-frequency soul-searching question repeatedly appearing: "Can someone tell me why this i6 looks so ugly but so many people buy it?" "It's really ugly, but Li Auto's infotainment and driving feel are indeed good." This probably represents the mindset of many real owners. Aesthetics are subjective, and it is hard to persuade people who dislike the exterior, but buyers who value the in-car experience, smart driving, and family convenience will be much more tolerant of the looks.

According to Li Auto's positioning, the new i6 is the first complete form of the Lianshan pure electric system, with electric powertrain, smart driving, and cockpit fully connected. Li Xiang has said that the best-selling hit deserves the best hardware. This car's goal is not only the domestic family market, but also going overseas to become a global hit. Some loyal old fans also said, "Buying a Li Auto is the thing I regret least," recognizing the whole family-oriented logic and accepting the tradeoffs in this facelift.

Popularity is only a good start; whether it can stand firm still depends on execution

The APP crash also exposed the two sides of the direct sales model. Online ordering and official direct sales have the advantage of transparent policies and direct reach to users; but when orders flood in within a short time, whether the system is stable is itself part of service capability. Low-price stock triggering traffic is a skill, but order freezes and queue errors genuinely consume goodwill.

Fixing the server is only the first step. The buying frenzy will eventually cool down, and the online debate—whether this is a sincere facelift or a disguised cost cut through reduced features—must be left to long-term use for verification. The subsequent delivery pace, vehicle quality control, long-term battery performance, smart driving OTA rollout, and after-sales follow-up are the keys to determining whether the i6 can continue to sell in volume.

A hit can become famous overnight through precise pricing and hitting pain points, but long-lasting reputation has never been built by a single launch's heat; it depends on users' real experience after each car is delivered.

Interactive topic:

On one side are upgrades to range, air suspension, seats, and headlights; on the other side are tradeoffs involving real leather, the old battery, soft-close doors, and other configurations. Can you accept this tradeoff plan for the new i6? Welcome to chat in the comment section.

Disclaimer: This article is only a financial commentary on major companies and does not constitute any investment advice. The company data and regulatory events mentioned in the article all come from public information and are for reference only; the specific details are subject to official releases. Image sources are from the internet; if there is any copyright issue, please contact us for deletion.