As demand for electrified vehicles grows, more brands are entering the Philippines, each attempting to carve out a niche in our extremely competitive industry. As is the situation with Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker Li Auto, which is entering the Philippine market via its official local distributor, HomeAuto Inc.
The brand’s decision to expand into the Philippines demonstrates the company’s dedication to increasing its worldwide footprint and meeting the growing demand for premium, sustainable mobility solutions. The Philippines is the company’s first ASEAN country to offer its range-extended electric cars (REEVs) geared for families. REEVs, also known as PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles), are electric vehicles with a gasoline engine that acts as a range extender, recharging the battery when it falls below a particular level of charge.
“We are thrilled to introduce Li Auto’s innovative smart electric vehicles to the Philippines,” said HomeAuto Inc. Chief Executive Officer Stone Yu. “The local market presents a significant opportunity for us with its increasing awareness of electric vehicles and interest in modern technology. Filipinos’ strong family values align perfectly with our vision, so we are confident that they will appreciate the unique blend of luxury and technology that Li Auto offers.”
Li Auto was founded in 2015 and has headquarters in Beijing, China. It’s core mission is to provide safer, more comfortable, and more convenient experiences on the road for families. Despite being a young brand, Li Auto sold 500,508 automobiles in China in 2024, up 33.1% from the previous year’s sales of 376,030.
For the Philippines, Li Auto Philippines is currently previewing the Li L7, a 5-seater luxury mid-size crossover, and the Li L9, a six-seater full-size flagship SUV in back-to-back mall displays. The brand intends to launch a third and larger nameplate, which we think is the Li Mega, once their BGC showroom opens.
The Li L7 was designed to reinvent the luxury mid-sized crossover with a large cabin that provides a home-like experience for the entire family while offering a CLTC range of 1,360 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the Li L9 features three rows of seats and a revolutionary five-screen, three-dimensional interactive intelligent cockpit that elevates the driving and entertainment experience. Its self-developed range extension and chassis technologies give great driving performance, with a CLTC range of 1,412 kilometers.
Li Auto’s innovative REEV platform served as the foundation for both models, which feature great audiovisual technology, an advanced autonomous driving sensor system, and superior handling.
While waiting for the BGC and Pasay showrooms to open, the Li L7 and Li L9 will be on exhibit in the SM Mall of Asia from April 4 to 10, 2025.