Li Auto founder Li Xiang today announced the completion of 2,500 supercharging stations across China. This milestone comes ahead of the launch of the upcoming Li i8 model.

Li Auto aims to expand its charging network further. The company is targeting over 4,000 supercharging stations in the future. This initiative seeks to enhance accessibility for Li Auto’s electric vehicle users.

.source-ref{font-size:0.85em;color:#666;display:block;margin-top:1em;}a.ask-tia-citation-link:hover{color:#11628d !important;background:#e9f6f5 !important;border-color:#11628d !important;text-decoration:none !important;}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){a.ask-tia-citation-link{font-size:11px !important;}}

🔗 Source: Huxiu

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ China’s charging infrastructure race reflects broader EV dominance strategy

Li Auto’s milestone of 2,500 supercharging stations represents just a fraction of China’s massive charging infrastructure expansion that has outpaced global competitors.

China’s charging network has grown from 213,903 charging outlets in 2017 to an astounding 5.21 million stations by December 2022, with projections to reach 9.58 million by 2023 1.

This infrastructure growth directly supports China’s dominance in global EV sales, which reached 54% of the worldwide market 2, creating a cycle where robust charging networks encourage greater EV adoption.

The strategic placement of Li Auto’s stations, from remote locations like Zhufeng to high-traffic destinations like Shanghai Disneyland, demonstrates the comprehensive coverage approach that has helped Chinese manufacturers address range anxiety concerns.

This infrastructure advantage has become a crucial competitive edge as Chinese automakers expand globally, with BYD recently surpassing Tesla as the world’s top-selling EV manufacturer 3.

2️⃣ Supercharging networks represent the third phase of China’s EV evolution

Li Auto’s charging expansion reflects China’s methodical approach to electric mobility that began decades before today’s EV boom.

China’s electric transportation journey started with electric trams and subways in the 1970s, followed by a massive electric bike revolution in the 1990s that saw sales skyrocket from 56,000 in 1998 to over 21 million by 2008 4.

This gradual electrification prepared both consumers and industry for the current EV phase, with each stage building necessary technical expertise and consumer familiarity with electric transportation.

Government support has been consistent across all phases, with early motorcycle bans in 90 major cities accelerating electric bike adoption 4, followed by later EV subsidies of up to RMB 60,000 ($9,530) for battery electric vehicles 4.

The charging network expansion represents the critical third phase of infrastructure development, with companies like Li Auto benefiting from both government support and the lessons learned from earlier electric mobility transitions.

3️⃣ Charging networks increasingly function as competitive moats in China’s EV market

Li Auto’s announcement highlights how proprietary charging networks have become strategic assets that help manufacturers differentiate in China’s crowded EV marketplace.

The top 15 charging operators control 93.8% of all charging stations in China 1, creating significant barriers to entry for newcomers and allowing established players to offer superior customer experiences.

Domestic sales of vehicles in China reached 31.4 million units in recent reporting, with electric vehicles accounting for 41% of total sales 5, making charging infrastructure critical to capturing market share.

Li Auto’s strategic placement of their 2,500th station at Shanghai Disneyland demonstrates how premium positioning of charging infrastructure serves both practical needs and brand enhancement goals.

As Chinese consumers increasingly prefer local brands that integrate technology into their vehicles 5, superior charging networks create customer loyalty while addressing the practical range concerns that remain a hurdle to broader EV adoption.

Recent Li Auto developments

……