理想，背水一战

Core Insights - The launch of the Li Auto i6 marks the completion of the company's vehicle releases for the year, following a challenging trajectory in 2023 with fluctuating sales and a need to adjust targets [1][3] - Li Auto's ambition for 700,000 annual sales has been undermined by declining sales in its extended-range series and increased competition in the market, leading to a shift in focus towards pure electric vehicles [1][4] Group 1: Sales Performance - After a promising start in early 2023, Li Auto's sales peaked in May at 40,000 units but have since declined, with August sales dropping below 30,000 units [4][6] - The average selling price of Li Auto vehicles has decreased amid falling sales, although net profit for the first half of the year remained positive at 1.744 billion yuan, with a slight increase in vehicle gross margin to 20.3% [8] - The company anticipates a significant drop in third-quarter vehicle deliveries, projecting a year-on-year decrease of 37.8% to 41.1%, with revenues expected to fall by 38.8% to 42.1% [8][9] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Li Auto faces intense competition, particularly from the AITO brand, which has successfully launched multiple models that directly compete with Li Auto's offerings, leading to a loss of market share [6][8] - The introduction of lower-priced competitors targeting the extended-range market has further pressured Li Auto's sales, particularly affecting the performance of its L6 model [8][9] Group 3: Product Strategy and Challenges - The launch of the i8 model faced challenges due to pricing and configuration complexities, leading to a need for strategic adjustments, including a return to simpler configurations and price reductions [9][11] - The i6 model's launch has shown initial success, with significant pre-orders, but it raises concerns about cannibalizing sales from the L6 model, which is crucial for Li Auto's extended-range segment [11][16] - The company is at a crossroads, needing to balance the growth of its pure electric segment while maintaining the sales momentum of its extended-range vehicles, a challenge that reflects broader industry trends [16]