If ONE has aspirations, then do good deeds.

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Because I posted a Weibo and learned about some recent events regarding Li Auto, I decided to write this post.

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![](https://42how-com.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/article/image_20220908213559.png)

Just by looking at the content of the Weibo, some people might think that as a veteran owner of Li ONE for over two years, I am not in a position to comment. I also know that any comments about Li ONE at this time will come under negative attacks. In this Weibo, I want to share some positive stories with everyone. If you encounter any setbacks at this time, it might be helpful to relax a bit. Fairness in the world is often relative. For example, we first batch of buyers of Li ONE, was it fair? Unfair. There were no preferential policies, and we only relied on lifetime quality assurance to pay for it. We drove a brand that most people had never heard of, even if they had, it was a brand that could go bust at any time. We endured questioning and ridicule while driving the so-called "smart test car." My Li ONE and I persevered. I hope that you and your Li ONE will also have a beautiful memory in the future.

Now back to the last-generation GLK mentioned in the Weibo. Mercedes-Benz was actually very clever. When planning the last batch of mass-produced cars, they came up with a special edition, the platinum version I mentioned earlier. They just changed the front face, added a new color, pasted a nameplate on the vehicle body, and released it as a minor facelift. Although everyone knew that it was going to be discontinued, they forgot it completely. Old car owners were only discussing which model looked better, and even because of the new release, the price remained high. They almost all had the same price at the 4S stores. Perhaps it was Mercedes-Benz's strategy that made me buy an extraordinary car model with almost no regrets. Of course, soon after that, GLC was going to be released, and GLK started to be sold at clearance prices. But I was not upset at all.

![A picture taken by a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast inside the factory, he must also be reluctant to say goodbye.](https://42how-com.oss-cn-beijing.aliyuncs.com/article/image_20220908213608.png)

Thinking about it, my situation at the time was quite similar to that of new Li ONE owners now. Admittedly, the manufacturers' strategies have indeed affected consumers' mentality, but it does not affect how I choose to lead my car life.

This GLK was replaced by a larger car due to the arrival of a new family member. It perfectly met my needs at the time, and the transition from old to new model did not affect my attitude towards using the car. I felt it was the best car for me and it was my first “dad car”. It accompanied me from a single man to a dad, witnessing the growth of my love into a family.

When you live life with heart, life often rewards your future. In that year, after settling the new family, I drove alone in my GLK on a self-driving tour around Tibet, which is still one of my proudest life experiences.

Later, with the arrival of a second child, my family needed a larger SUV. At this time, Ideal ONE appeared almost seamlessly in my list of car replacement options, and it was the only option. Here, it’s like a classic line from Transformers:

A driver doesn’t pick the car, the car’ll pick up the driver, it’s a mystical bond between man and machine.

It seems that Ideal ONE chose me, not the other way around. I believe it not only chose me, but also a large number of dads like me with two children. As for what happened later, everyone who has driven it says it’s great while those who haven’t are criticizing it.

As the first batch of seed users stabilized, the official wanted more people to understand and eliminate misunderstandings about Ideal ONE. They decided to organize a self-driving event called “Tibet Expedition”. However, at that time, Ideal was far from its current size and team, and the event went from planning for a larger convoy to finally having only three people, with two of them being official staff. There was also a list of selected attendees, and the lucky car owner who eventually participated was me.

Without the experience of traveling to Tibet alone with GLK, it would have been impossible for me to have this opportunity, as this trip requires certain Tibetan travel experience and self-sufficiency. As you may know, the level of difficulty and style of charging stations are quite high. My friends from the official team and I are like temporary travel companions traveling together, sometimes sleeping outdoors and sometimes rushing in the dark.

Because of my enthusiasm for making videos and writing travelogues, I have recorded many interesting trips during this journey. As a result, many people in the car owner community have come to know me. Moreover, thanks to this trip, I was fortunate enough to be invited as a car owner representative to share my experience at an Ideal Chengdu car owner’s event.

What makes me the most proud is that I become an Ideal ONE experience officer, and continue to be invited to participate in various official events in the future. Many people ask why my figure always appears in Ideal’s events. In the eyes of outsiders, my contributions may be the accumulation of my carefully lived life day by day.“`
!The first batch of Ideal ONE experience officers and President Kevin [photo]

In the second year of Ideal ONE, it seemed that Kou Factory no longer had the idea of continuing the “poor travel” self-driving activity. Just when I was considering where to drive my own car, a car friend from Xinjiang contacted me and asked me if I would like to drive Ideal ONE to Xinjiang together. So, there was the story of me and Brother Li driving his black Ideal ONE, carrying two boxes of gasoline, and bravely exploring the uninhabited areas of Xinjiang.

I am very grateful for Brother Li’s invitation and hospitality along the way. If it weren’t for the previous experience, maybe you wouldn’t know that there is a car friend who loves to play and write travel notes and takes videos called Qiu You. Of course, I didn’t idle either. I recorded many interesting moments, and Brother Li even liked and reposted my video at that time, which was very prestige (but unfortunately, I cannot find the screenshot).

In the third year of owning Ideal ONE, my children gradually grew up, and my need for a “dad car” gradually extended from daily family commuting to a real mobile family living space. So, I replaced Ideal ONE with L9. I still couldn’t bear to part with Ideal ONE. In fact, when looking at 80-90% of the cars on the road now, Ideal’s product power still holds up very well. It’s just that when Ideal ONE is compared with Ideal’s product line, it looks a little inferior.

Whether it’s the GLK, Ideal ONE, Ideal L9, or the cars I have owned in the past and will own in the future, I won’t forget the beautiful moments they have accompanied me in my life, especially Ideal ONE. It witnessed me passing the middle age of my life and gave me very clear guidance and inspiration. In my L9 delivery video, I deeply salute my Ideal ONE. Unfortunately, my recent work has been too busy, and I haven’t had time to edit the video. I hope my delivery video can meet everyone as soon as possible. I believe it is also a work that touches every ONE owner.
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Finally, I hope that both sides, car companies and consumers, can understand each other. Life is always about constant growth in imperfection, and so are car models and enterprises. Live in the present and enjoy the beautiful now. Wish you a pleasant driving experience.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.