Li Auto Expects Partnerships in Five Asian Markets and Begins Launch Preparations
Key Facts
Li Auto signed partnership agreements in five markets: Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam. The company said in a statement published via EIN Presswire on November 10, 2026, that the markets had entered the launch-preparation phase. The agreements give the company local distribution and operating channels as it expands in Asia-Pacific. In Thailand, the company will operate through a subsidiary, with Evante and Infinite Automobile Company as distribution partners. It appointed Zung Fu Group Hong Kong as its general distributor in Hong Kong, and Wearnes Automotive in Singapore. It also selected Dangdang New Energy Auto Service for the Philippines and Neera Motors for Vietnam.
The plan includes steps to launch the right-hand-drive Li MEGA, the company's first major model with this configuration. Li Auto said the vehicle will appear at the Thailand International Motor Expo in December 2026, followed by a brand and model launch event in Hong Kong. The Business Times reported that the first Singapore deliveries are expected in January or February 2027. Wearnes Automotive will be the company's distributor there, with plans to open a showroom at 45 Leng Kee Road. These dates signal a shift from arranging the agreements to beginning showcases and deliveries in the region's markets.
Li Auto said the MEGA version for right-hand-drive markets features 11-kilowatt charging and a CCS Type 2 connector. It added that the vehicle's settings were designed to meet five-star ASEAN NCAP standards. The configuration includes adjustments to align systems and local practices, as well as adapting products and services to regulations and user needs. Nestor Wu, the company's vice president of international business, said partnering with local players and adapting to each market's requirements would help broaden the reach of its smart family cars. He added: "By partnering with leading local players in each market and adapting our products and services to local regulations and user needs, we will bring Li Auto's smart electric vehicles designed for families to more customers in the region."
The model plan indicates that the MEGA will be the company's first car in right-hand-drive markets when it launches in 2027, according to The Business Times. The vehicle is 5.4 meters long and seats seven people, and is the company's first all-electric car, the report said. The second model designated for these markets will be the i6 sport utility vehicle. Li Auto said it intends to introduce more than one right-hand-drive model within a year of the announcement. The company is linking entry into new markets with the expansion of its lineup configured for right-hand-side driving.
The overseas expansion comes as the company's free cash flow was negative 1.3 billion yuan in the second quarter of 2026, compared with negative 3.8 billion yuan in the same period a year earlier, according to The Business Times. This places the distribution and launch plans in the context of the company's financial performance as it turns to markets outside China. Li Auto is also targeting entry into the United Kingdom in 2027, the report said, while strengthening its presence in the Middle East and Europe. In trading, the company's stock closed at $12.34 on November 9, 2026, according to EL7 data. The next announced milestones are the MEGA's appearance in Thailand in December, followed by its launch in Hong Kong, with Singapore deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.