Investigation
In the world of electric vehicles, a recent controversy has unfolded between Nio and its sub-brand Onvo, and Li Auto. The controversy began when Li Auto Vice President Liu Jie suggested a smear campaign was targeting Li Auto's upcoming all-electric SUV, the Li Auto i8, with false unfavourable comparisons linked to the Onvo L90 [1].
The controversy escalated following a widely shared user comment claiming to have tested both the Li Auto i8 and the Onvo L90. The user comment alleged that the i8 "rocked like a boat," while praising the L90's stability, interior space, and seating comfort. The comment also included criticisms of the i8's assisted driving performance, claiming it nearly caused a traffic incident [2].
However, the originator of the fabricated test drive story publicly admitted to making it up, clarifying that the claims did not come from Onvo. The author, who owns both a Nio ET7 and a Li Auto L9, emphasized that there was no gain, no attempt to profit, and no hype involved in the story [3].
In response to the claim, Onvo President Shen Fei commented, "I suggest you report it to the police." Onvo's Shen later publicly addressed Liu Jie on Weibo, stating that the origin of the claim did not come from Onvo [4]. On July 26, the author of the post issued a public retraction [5].
Meanwhile, Li Auto's crash test video showing the Li i8 colliding with an 8-ton truck sparked further controversy. The video was criticized online and the truck maker Chenglong called the footage misleading, accusing Li Auto of deception. However, Li Auto and the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) later explained the truck was a test object used solely to demonstrate the i8's passive safety features, not to comment on the truck’s safety or other brands [6]. Following this, the truck manufacturer, Li Auto, and CAERI issued a joint apology and closed the matter [7][8].
Nio denied any involvement in spreading the smear campaign and urged users not to be misled. The dispute was described as a rare public spat, but with clarifications and apologies from all parties, the situation has been resolved without further escalation [1][3][5].
In other news, the Li Auto i8, priced between 350,000 and 400,000 yuan (approx. 48,200 to 55,000 USD), is open for pre-orders, with an official launch scheduled for July 29 [9]. Interestingly, just a week after launch, the Li Auto i8 recently switched to a single configuration starting from 47,200 USD [10].
On the other hand, the Onvo L90, starting at 279,900 yuan (approximately 38,500 USD) for the full-purchase version and 193,900 yuan (roughly 26,700 USD) with battery leasing, began presales on July 10. Deliveries for the Onvo L90 are expected to begin on August 1 [11]. The Onvo L90 was recently reviewed in a Sunday China Drive article, which highlighted its full-size comfort and budget-friendly pricing [12].
[1] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/24/5281935.html [2] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/25/5282003.html [3] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/26/5282062.html [4] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/26/5282080.html [5] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/27/5282179.html [6] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/24/5281935.html [7] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/25/5282003.html [8] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/25/5282003.html [9] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/24/5281935.html [10] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/25/5282003.html [11] https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/2022-07/11/5279658.html [12] https://www.chinadrive.cn/article/117066.html
Finance plays a significant role in the competition among electric vehicle brands, as both the Li Auto i8 and Onvo L90 are open for pre-orders with differing price ranges. The Li Auto i8 is priced between 350,000 and 400,000 yuan, while the Onvo L90 starts at 279,900 yuan for the full-purchase version and 193,900 yuan with battery leasing [9][11].
Meanwhile, technology innovation and advancements in electric vehicle technology are crucial in driving sales, as seen in the controversy surrounding Li Auto's crash test video and the praises for the Onvo L90's stability in user reviews [6][12]. In sports terms, this rivalry can be compared to a close race, with each brand striving to outperform the other in terms of performance, safety, and pricing.
