IM Motors to Launch First Range-Extended SUV Model Next Year

TapTechNews June 6 news, according to 36Kr AUTO learned from a number of insiders, IM Motors' first range-extended model will be an SUV model. The new car is planned to be released in the first quarter of next year and will be benchmarked against Li Auto L7.

Reports quoted insiders as saying, The range-extended project was立项 (initiated) in the second half of last year, and the first car wants to quickly capture the market with the positioning of an SUV.

According to people close to IM Motors, IM Motors' first range-extended product will be transformed from the internal code-named E1 platform architecture of SAIC Group. This platform architecture can accommodate a larger battery pack and a series architecture.

TapTechNews noted that currently IM Motors has a total of 4 models on sale, namely IM L7, LS7 SUV and IM L6 and LS6 sedans, all of which are pure electric models. Among them, the latest IM L6 comes standard with the Lizard Digital Chassis + Four-Wheel Steering + LiDAR, with a starting price of $28900. And the declaration drawing of the new IM LS6 has also been announced, and it is one step closer to the listing.

In May this year, Liu Tao, the co-CEO of IM Motors, revealed when accepting the media that the iterative speed of IM Motors in the future will pay tribute to 3C products, with a cycle of 12 to 18 months. There will also be the facelifted versions of LS6 and LS7 going on sale in the second half of this year.

Liu Tao said that since the beginning of this year, the market performance of LS6 is indeed not as expected, but after the car迎来改款 (gets a facelift) in the second half of the year, the price will be very explosive.

In fact, for new energy brands starting with pure electric, it is not without precedent to launch range-extended models later. The first range-extended model of Leapmotor - Leapmotor C11 Range Extended was listed on March 1, 2023, and since then, it has started a dual-power layout of pure electric + range-extended.