Chinese electric-car start-up unveils futuristic people mover

A little-known Chinese electric-vehicle start-up has unveiled a futuristic people mover which has attracted more than 10,000 pre-orders in two hours of its public debut.

The Mega from China's Li Auto blends the design of the Hyundai Staria petrol people mover available in Australia with hints of the Tesla Cybertruck electric pick-up.

It is the first electric vehicle from the start-up – which has previously sold range-extender hybrid vehicles – and is priced from less than 600,000 Chinese yuan, or about $AU130,000.

As reported by Car News China, the Li Mega measures 5.3 metres long and just under two metres wide, with a 3.3-metre wheelbase, and seating for up to seven occupants in a 2+2+3 layout. 

The Li Mega is powered by a 155kW front electric motor and a 245kW rear electric motor for 400kW combined, good for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.5 seconds. 

Energy is stored in a 102.7kWh battery which can provide up to 700km of claimed driving range according to lenient Chinese CLTC testing procedures. 

Supplied by Chinese company CATL – which also builds batteries for Tesla – this battery is reportedly able to charge at a maximum rate of 552kW. 

This figure was drawn from a leaked video spotted by Car News China, which shows the Li Mega recharging from six to 80 per cent in just 11 minutes – restoring 500km of claimed driving range. 

Although increasingly niche in Australia, people movers remain popular in China, particularly with electric power.

Other models in the category include the X9 from Chinese electric-car start-up Xpeng – which was unveiled alongside the Li Mega at the Guangzhou motor show – as well as the LDV Mifa 9, Zeekr 009, and Volvo EM90.