IM Motors. IM Motors (, Zhiji Motors) is an electric vehicle joint venture between Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC Motor and Chinese technology companies Zhangjiang Hi-Tech and Alibaba Group.

Etymology
The company's English name IM stands for "Intelligence in Motion". Its Chinese name is Zhiji Motors (智己汽车).

History
The IM Motors joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech was established in December 2020, and a 3D rendering of the company's upcoming sedan, aiming to compete with the Tesla Model S, was presented later in January 2021.

A dynamically developing industry in China, the so-called New Energy Vehicles are distinguished by their high-performance and high power drive systems.

In April 2021 at the Auto Shanghai auto show, IM Motors presented three vehicles; the L7 electric executive car prototype, along with two concepts, the LS7 mid-size SUV and the Airo designed by English designer Thomas Heatherwick.

In December 2022, IM Motors officially launched its second production mode, the IM LS7, planning to start its sales in the second half of 2023 limited only to domestic market. Meanwhile, the 18% stake held by the administrative authorities of Shanghai's Pudong New District was sold to the private company Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. 

In August 2023, the company introduced its third model in the form of the LS6, an "SUV Coupe" variation of the flagship LS7, positioned below it under the name LS6.

In July 2023, the German Audi announced that it is establishing strategic cooperation with the Chinese company SAIC Motor in order to borrow its platform used to build large electric cars. Audi thus expressed its desire to use this technology to build its own electric model specifically for the Chinese market in order to increase its competitiveness against companies such as Nio.

In February 2024, IM Motors participated in the Geneva Motor Show and launched its fourth model, Zhiji L6, for the first time in the world. On April 8, 2024, Zhiji L6 was officially released and pre-sale started. The car will be officially launched on May 13, with a price range of RMB 219,900 to 345,900. A discount of RMB 22,000 will be offered for purchase within the first month after launch. The flagship version of the car (Max Lightyear Edition) uses a quasi-900V ultra-high performance platform and ultra-fast charging semi-solid-state batteries, with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.

On March 1, 2024, IM Motors announced that it had received over RMB 8 billion in Series B equity financing, led by Bank of China Asset Management, a subsidiary of Bank of China, with participation from ABC Investment, Lingang Group, CATL, Momenta, Qingtao Energy and other companies.

Models

Current models
 IM L7 (2022–present),  full-size sedan
 IM L6 (2024–present), mid-size sedan
 IM LS7 (2023–present), mid-size SUV 
 IM LS6 (2023–present), mid-size SUV

Concept vehicles
IM Motors has revealed the following concept cars:

 Airo (2021, Shanghai), a 4-door concept car designed by Heatherwick Studio.
 LS7 (2021, Shanghai), a mid-size SUV concept previewing an upcoming model.

Sales

See also 

 Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
 List of automobile manufacturers of China

References

Manufacturing companies based in Shanghai
SAIC Motor
SAIC Motor joint ventures
Joint ventures
 
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2020
Electric vehicle manufacturers of China
Alibaba Group
2020 establishments in Shanghai