By Kate Yuan

Li Auto, a leading Chinese EV startup, announced on August 24 to start establishing a power semiconductor R&D and production base in Suzhou, eastern China’s Jiangsu Province, focusing on SiC power modules for autos. This indicates that the company has initiated its independent supply chain for the next-generation high-voltage electric drive technology. 

The production base settled in Suzhou High-tech Zone in May this year, and will be built by Suzhou Sike Semiconductor (苏州斯科半导体), a joint venture between Li Auto and Sanan Optoelectronics’ subsidiary Hunan Sanan Semiconductor.

It is expected to complete construction in 2022 and start sample trial production in the first half of 2023. The production capacity will gradually increase with the final goal of 2.4 million SiC half-bridge power modules annually after the formal production in 2024.

Li Auto was founded by Li Xiang in Beijing in 2015 and was listed on Nasdaq in 2020.