Li Auto Founder Releases Vehicle Launch Plan, Lower Year-End Award Triggers Controversy

Li Xiang, the founding father of Chinese electrical car Li Auto, revealed the associated fee positioning of every mannequin on Twitter-like Weibo on January 30. The firm’s L9 will stay within the value vary of 400,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan ($59,225 – $74,031), the medium-sized L8 and L7 will keep within the value vary of 300,000 yuan to 400,000 yuan, and the L6 and L5 (non-SUV kind) will likely be priced between 200,000 yuan to 300,000 yuan.

Li additionally mentioned that there will likely be no fashions underneath 200,000 yuan. Recently, rumors swirled {that a} new model of the L8 will likely be geared up with non-air suspension and have a price ticket of about 300,000 yuan. In addition, Li revealed in a live-streaming occasion that the L6 will likely be postponed till subsequent yr as a result of lack of vitality and manufacturing capability this yr.

From January to December 2022, a complete of 133,246 automobiles have been delivered by the model, a rise of 47.2% in contrast with 2021. As of the tip of 2022, its cumulative supply quantity sits at round 257,334 automobiles.

However, behind final yr’s progress in supply quantity, many workers have been disenchanted about their year-end bonuses. On January 19, an authorized worker posted, “Li Auto boosts its high delivery volume to the public and provides unrealistic promises to drive us to complete sales targets. However, our year-end award fails to meet our expectations. I’m ready to quit.”

After the submit was printed, many Li Auto workers within the remark space agreed with the sentiment. An worker answerable for logistics mentioned that workers on the decrease a part of the corporate ladder like himself didn’t even obtain a year-end award.

Another worker, answerable for gross sales, was much more resentful, “During the interview, the company said that there are 6 social insurances, housing provident fund and 13-month salaries, but after actually joining the company, I’m under great pressure to meet sales targets. About 20% of employees will get a ‘C’ after every performance appraisal. I thought I could get more bonuses when the sales volume soared last year, but failed.”

SEE ALSO: Li Auto L9 SUV Model Catches Fire in China’s Shandong Province

Even the R&D crew, which Li Xiang has beforehand introduced to have obtained will increase in funding, has been affected. An algorithm engineer mentioned, “When hiring, everybody is alleged to get 14-month or 16-month salaries, however it’s by no means written within the official labor settlement. When I joined the corporate half a yr in the past, I had no different alternative. Now I’m in search of new job alternatives.

According to the data on the recruitment web site, “product experts”, as workers are sometimes referred to as, working for Li Auto in numerous areas are paid otherwise. In first-tier cities, some jobs present 13-month salaries, whereas in a number of lower-end markets, some jobs promise 15-month and even 18-month salaries.

Sign up right now for five free articles month-to-month!