Li Auto President: Mach chip, SiC modules can be sold externally

This marks a notable shift for an automaker long positioned as a vertically integrated EV player: Li Auto is now signaling it wants to behave more like a component supplier for its chip and SiC power modules, using external sales to spread R&D costs that internal volumes alone may not justify. The distinction Ma draws on battery packs is telling — these are the parts where scale and compatibility make external supply hard, while standardized silicon and chip designs travel more easily. The open question is whether external customers, likely other automakers or tier-one suppliers, are willing to buy critical components from a competitor.