China has launched its own rival to Tesla’s Cybertruck with prices for a new luxury electric car likely to be over £20,000 cheaper. Launching back in 2022, the Li Auto L9 is a luxury SUV stuffed full of tech and appears every bit a rival to Elon Musk and Tesla if it launches overseas.
Inside the six-seater L9 is packed with features with a gorgeous cinema screen infotainment system, combined with 11 cameras, radar tech and gesture control. On the roads, it certainly packs a punch with the L9 capable of 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds while dialed into Optimum mode. Once reset to standard the car can still reach 62mph in just six seconds with a top speed of around 112mph, plenty quick enough for city-based petrolheads to enjoy.
Even with the optional range extender plugged in, the Cybertruck can travel up to 440 miles.
Price could also be a factor with Li on sale in China for the equivalent of £49,000.
Meanwhile, the cheapest Tesla Cybertruck on sale in the USA starts at just under $80,000 (£62,000), well over £20,000 more expensive.
The lack of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in the UK means the Li Auto L9 could be one of the most affordable luxury SUVs around.
However, Li has yet to formally enter the UK and European markets with vehicles only being sold domestically in China.
Li Auto has opened a Research and Development centre in Munich but this is not for building vehicles.
Instead, their first overseas R&D centre is around to help gain insights into the European market and localise their products to meet customer needs.
This all sounds like Li is seriously considering a European or UK launch but no dates have yet been announced.