With the Li Auto i8 starting at ¥320,000 ($44,800) and ONVO L90’s top-tier version priced below ¥320,000 ($44,800), which offers better value?
On the evening of July 29, Li Auto officially unveiled its second all-electric model—the i8—with a starting price of ¥321,800 ($45,052), the same as the Li Auto L8. In today’s fiercely competitive market, the strategy of “same price for EV and EREV” appears to be a deliberate decision from Li Auto.
However, shortly after the i8 launch event concluded, rumors emerged online claiming that the top-spec all-wheel-drive version of the ONVO L90 would be priced under ¥320,000 ($44,800), signaling intense competition ahead.
The initial leak came from Damon, head of ONVO’s sales division, who revealed the information in an internal WeChat group. Given the L90’s pre-sale starting price of ¥279,900 ($39,186) and previously leaked spec sheets, this news is widely considered credible.
Compared to the i8 Pro, which starts at ¥321,800 ($45,052), the L90 offers a firm promise: “top trim under ¥320,000” ($44,800). Many industry observers believe this is a “precision strike”—the price-performance combo puts significant pressure on the i8 Pro. Some insiders have even pointed out that in real-world use, the L90’s flexible space and storage capacity may better suit the needs of mainstream families.
Meanwhile, thanks to the L90’s strong value proposition in both pricing and product strength, a growing number of current NIO owners are considering switching to ONVO. This has sparked discussions in user communities about whether they could transfer their NIO owner privileges to the new brand.
In response, NIO founder William Li candidly stated in a WeChat group that it was “not sustainable.” With the company now operating under a basic business unit structure, the ONVO brand simply doesn’t have the budget to inherit NIO owner benefits. He suggested that users retain their rights for repurchasing or trading up within the NIO brand.
The stock market’s reaction was also telling. Li Auto’s stock dipped following the event, potentially reflecting investor skepticism about its pricing strategy. Whether the L90 can truly disrupt the market remains to be seen and will depend on consumer response after the official launch.
As the July 31 launch of the ONVO L90 approaches, consumer anticipation continues to rise. In an increasingly competitive all-electric SUV market, the showdown between the ONVO L90 and Li Auto i8 is set to become a key focal point within the industry.
Discover more from ChinaEVHome
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
