IM Motors
{{redirect-distinguish|Zhiji Motors|Shinjin Motors}}
{{Short description|Chinese electric vehicle joint venture}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Zhiji Automotive Technology Co., Ltd
(IM Motors)
| logo = IM Motors 2025.svg
| logo_size = 260px
| type = Joint venture
| traded_as =
| fate =
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| foundation = {{start date and age|December 2020}} (Shanghai)
| founder =
| defunct =
| location_city = Shanghai
| location_country = China
| location =
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| area_served = China
| key_people = Liu Tao (co-CEO)
| industry = Automotive
| products = Electric vehicles
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
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| equity =
| owner = SAIC Motor (54%)
Alibaba Group (18%)
Zhangjiang Hi-Tech (18%)
| num_employees =
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| homepage = {{URL|https://www.immotors.com/}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
IM Motors ({{zh|s=智己汽车}}, 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).{{cite web|url=https://www.autofutures.tv/2021/01/16/a-new-ev-brand-is-born-chinas-im-motors-is-officially-launched-backed-by-alibaba/|title=A New EV Brand is Born – China's IM Motors is Officially Launched; Backed by Alibaba|website=Auto Futures|date=16 January 2021|accessdate=11 September 2021|archive-date=11 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911234017/https://www.autofutures.tv/2021/01/16/a-new-ev-brand-is-born-chinas-im-motors-is-officially-launched-backed-by-alibaba/|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.electrive.com/2021/01/15/saic-alibaba-set-up-zhiji-auto-for-electric-car-label-im/|title=SAIC & Alibaba set up Zhiji Auto for electric car label IM|website=Electrive|date=15 January 2021|accessdate=11 September 2021}}
A dynamically developing industry in China, the so-called New Energy Vehicles are distinguished by their high-performance and high power drive systems.{{Cite web|title=SAIC's premium EV brand Zhiji Motor to show three models at Auto China 2021|url=https://autonews.gasgoo.com/Detail2020.aspx?ClassId=2&ArticleId=70017830|access-date=2022-02-09|website=Gasgoo}}
In April 2021 at the Auto Shanghai auto show, IM Motors presented three vehicles; the L7 electric executive car prototype,{{cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2021/04/zhiji-l7-is-an-electric-sports-sedan-from-china-with-wireless-charging-620-mile-range/|title=Zhiji L7 Is An Electric Sports Sedan From China With Wireless Charging, 620-Mile Range|website=Carscoops|first=Sam D.|last=Smith|date=12 April 2021|accessdate=11 September 2021}} along with two concepts, the LS7 mid-size SUV and the Airo designed by English designer Thomas Heatherwick.{{cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2021/04/giant-air-purifier-on-wheels-sets-out-to-make-a-real-difference-say-hello-to-the-im-airo/|title=Giant Air Purifier On Wheels Sets Out To Make A Real Difference: Say Hello To The IM Airo|website=Carscoops|first=Sam D.|last=Smith|date=21 April 2021|accessdate=11 September 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/im-motors-is-launching-311-plan-at-auto-shanghai-2021-301276282.html|title=IM Motors is launching 3+1+1 Plan at Auto Shanghai 2021|website=PR Newswire|date=24 April 2021|accessdate=12 September 2021}}
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.{{cite web|access-date=2022-12-17|language=en|title=The IM LS7 Is An Electric Chinese SUV That Looks Like An Aston Martin DBX|date=16 December 2022 |url=https://www.carscoops.com/2022/12/the-im-ls7-is-an-electric-chinese-suv-that-looks-like-an-aston-martin-dbx/}} 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.{{cite web|access-date=2023-09-23|language=en|title=MG Australia wants 579kW IM LS6 electric SUV|url=https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/mg-australia-wants-579kw-im-ls6-electric-suv-141984/}}
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.{{cite web|access-date=2023-07-27|language=en|title=Audi in talks to buy premium EV platform from China's SAIC, report says|url=https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/audi-mulls-using-saic-unit-im-motors-premium-electric-platform}}
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.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-11 |title=智己L6预售价公布：23万元至33万元{{!}}界面新闻 · 快讯 |trans-title=IM L6 pre-sale price announced: 230,000 to 330,000 yuan {{!}} Jiemian News · News |url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/11016396.html |access-date=2024-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411180540/https://www.jiemian.com/article/11016396.html |archive-date=11 April 2024 }} 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.{{cite news |title=最前线 智己L6正式发布，上市权益价19.99万元 |url=https://36kr.com/p/2774493963600774 |accessdate=2024-05-14 |work=36氪 |date=2024-05-14 |archive-date=2024-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517050505/https://36kr.com/p/2774493963600774 |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite news|title=智己联席CEO谈智己L6"王炸"：超快充固态电池，超1000公里续航+准900V超快充|url=https://www.21jingji.com/article/20240325/herald/d4621b2d25c79b49fc0eaa7a644acd96.html|accessdate=2024-04-10|work=21综合|date=2024-03-25|archive-date=2024-03-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325051037/https://www.21jingji.com/article/20240325/herald/d4621b2d25c79b49fc0eaa7a644acd96.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Momenta news |url=https://autonews.gasgoo.com/icv/70035145.html |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=Gasgoo}}
Future Layout
According to IM Motors' overseas market layout plan, Zhiji L7 and LS7 will enter the Mexican, Middle Eastern, South American and Southeast Asian markets for sales in 2024; in 2025, LS6 and L6 will enter overseas markets for sales. IM Motors' overseas sales network will be selected from MG's existing dealer system to establish an independent channel; however, in some markets, it will share space with MG.{{cite news |author1=黄辛旭 |date=2024-02-26 |title=首次亮相日内瓦车展，智己汽车开启出海进程 上汽赵爱民：不亏本是前期目标 |url=https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2024-02-26/3256207.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311194028/https://www.nbd.com.cn/articles/2024-02-26/3256207.html |archive-date=2024-03-11 |accessdate=2024-04-10 |work=每日经济新闻}}
Models
{{see also|List of SAIC vehicles}}
=Current models=
- IM L7 (2022–present), full-size sedan, BEV
- IM L6 (2024–present), mid-size sedan, BEV
- IM LS7 (2023–present), mid-size SUV , BEV
- IM LS6 (2023–present), mid-size SUV , BEV/PHEV
File:IM L6 GIMS 2024 1X7A2393.jpg|IM L6
File:IM L7 GIMS 2024 1X7A2241.jpg|IM L7
File:2021 IM LS7.jpg|IM LS7
File:IM LS6 008.jpg|IM LS6
=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.
File:IM Airo Concept 2022010101.jpg|IM Airo Concept
File:Zhiji iM LS7 001.jpg|IM LS7 Concept
{{clear}}
Sales
| class="wikitable" |
| Calendar year
! Total sales |
|---|
| 2022 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |