Li Auto Removes Air Vent Adjustment Tabs: How Much Supply Chain Opportunity Is Hidden in One Small Part?

It is reported that the 2026 Li Auto L6 features a full-width, continuous air vent across the center console, with no manual adjustment tabs. When the air conditioning is turned on, the louvers automatically adjust their angles; when it is turned off, the hidden panel retracts. The 2026 Li Auto i6, which is expected to open for reservations at the end of September, will reportedly adopt the same solution.

At first glance, this looks like a small change. But behind it is a broader shift in automotive air vents from purely mechanical components to electronic components: one manual adjustment tab is removed, while a stepper motor, a set of reduction gears, a driver chip, and a communication bus are added.

1. From "Manual Adjustment" to "Motorized Movement": Four More Components

The structure of a manual air vent is relatively simple: housing, louvers, adjustment knob, and spring. A simple push or slide moves the linkage and rotates the louvers to a certain angle.

When a motorized hidden air vent is disassembled, at least four additional components can be found:

Motor

The mainstream solution uses stepper motors, while some applications use brushless DC motors. A stepper motor controls the louver angle through the number of pulses. After the zero position is calibrated during production, a position sensor is not required, helping keep costs low. The drawback is that the motor can lose steps after a stall, requiring the software to periodically return the mechanism to its home position. Brushless DC motors generate less noise and offer longer service life, but they come at a higher cost.

Reduction Gear Set

The motor rotates at high speed but provides relatively low torque, so a set of precision gears is required to reduce the speed and increase the torque. Miniature gearboxes are a key technical barrier in this field. Precision needs to reach the micrometer level, while noise must be controlled to a level that is barely perceptible in the quiet environment of a vehicle cabin.

Driver Chip

This may be even more critical than the motor itself. China's Taixin Microelectronics TCM33x series has reportedly passed AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive-grade certification and entered mass production. Its clearly defined applications include automotive air vents. The series supports both stepper motors and brushless DC motors, and integrates functions such as stall detection, overcurrent protection, and over-temperature shutdown. According to Securities Times, since its release in March 2024, the chip has been introduced by major automotive component suppliers and selected for projects by multiple automakers.

Communication Node

A motorized air vent is no longer an isolated mechanical component. Instead, it becomes part of the vehicle's body network, receiving commands from the infotainment system and supporting functions such as voice control, automatic air sweeping, and independent adjustment for different zones.

2. Hidden Air Vents: The Challenge Is Not "Moving," but "Hiding"

A standard motorized air vent simply replaces the manual adjustment tab with a motor, so the structural change is relatively limited. The real complexity comes with hidden air vents. When not in use, the air vent is concealed behind the dashboard panel and only emerges or slides out when needed.

This adds another layer of transmission mechanisms: a flap or sliding rail system, with a motor driving a rotating disc or screw mechanism. The panel opens first, and the air duct opening then aligns with the air outlet. A number of publicly disclosed patents show that this type of flap mechanism has already been adopted by multiple automakers.

Sealing is another challenge for hidden air vents. When the vent is hidden, the panel needs to remain flush with the dashboard surface. Once it opens, the connection between the air duct and the vent must not allow air leakage. After electrification, the angular accuracy of the actuator directly affects air leakage and air distribution.

The control logic is also becoming smarter. Automatic air sweeping in newer vehicles is no longer simply based on moving the louvers back and forth between fixed angles. Instead, the system determines the operating mode based on the difference between cabin temperature and the set temperature, while also considering blower speed and sunlight intensity. These two layers of logic determine the final sweeping angle.

Some high-end vehicles also support zone-based occupancy detection. If a seat is unoccupied, the air vent in that area can automatically narrow its opening, concentrating airflow on occupied areas. For electric vehicles, the portion of blower power saved can directly contribute to driving range.

3. From a Luxury Feature to the 200,000-RMB Price Range

During the traditional internal-combustion-engine vehicle era, manual air vents were standard equipment, while motorized air vents were mainly found in luxury models. Since 2024, as new energy vehicle manufacturers and Chinese automakers have launched more mid-to-high-end models, motorized hidden air vents have been moving down from the 300,000- RMB price range to the 200,000-RMB range.

The supply chain is changing along with it. In the past, air vent assembly manufacturers typically developed the manual structure in-house. Now, they are increasingly working with motor manufacturers, chip suppliers, and gearbox manufacturers to develop integrated solutions. Driver chips, miniature gearboxes, and actuators are becoming independent supply-chain segments rather than supporting components.

Standards, however, have yet to catch up. Existing automotive air-conditioning industry standards have added requirements related to electromagnetic compatibility and vibration resistance. However, there are still no unified industry standards specifically covering parameters such as the positioning accuracy, stall durability, noise limits, and anti-pinch protection of motorized air vents. Automakers are developing their own enterprise standards, while suppliers develop their products accordingly.

A single air vent has evolved from a purely mechanical component into an electronic component with a communication node, but the industry has yet to change the way it measures and evaluates it.