EVs have gone from the future of cars to the here and now. With battery-powered vehicles being more efficient, cheaper to operate, and environment-friendly, everyone’s looking to get their hands on an EV nowadays.
One of the newest additions to the EV sector is IM Motors. From sleek and stylish sedans to robust and dynamic SUVs, IM Motors has just the right car for you. And with 2024 just around the corner, the question on everyone’s mind is, “How much does an IM Motors EV cost?”
At A Glance
| Name: IM Motors aka Zhiji Motors | Founded: 2020 |
| Headquarters: Shanghai, China | Industry: Automotive |
| Parent Company: SAIC Motors |
How Much Does an IM Motors Cost?
IM Motors is a company that focuses on manufacturing high-end EVs. Their current lineup consists of IM L7, a mid-sized sedan, and IM LS7 and IM LS6, which are both mid-sized SUVs.
The prices of IM Motors vary depending on the model and trim level you choose to get. Thus the price ranges from $29,430 to $81,500
What is the Most Expensive IM Motors?
Out of the three models that are available for purchase with the IM Motors name tag, the LS7 is the most expensive. The LS7 is a luxury SUV that comes in multiple different trim levels.
The top-level variant comes with a twin-motor setup and a 100 kW/h battery and costs $64,300.
What is the Cheapest IM Motors?
The most affordable IM Motors vehicle that you can buy is the IM Motors LS6. The LS6 is an all-electric sedan that costs between 229,900 to 291,900 Yuan, which is equal to $29,400 to $39,970.
So, depending on the trim level and the optional add-ons you choose to go with, you can expect to get an LS6 for just over $30,000.
About IM Motors
History Of IM Motors
IM Motors is a joint venture between the Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC Motors, the Chinese technology company Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and Alibaba Group.
The name IM stands for “intelligence in motion” and the name boldly sums up their intentions and focus on developing smart vehicles. In Chinese, the company is called Zhiji Motors.
IM Motors was established in December 2020. Soon after, in January 2021, the company unveiled a 3D rendering of their upcoming sedan which aimed to compete with the Tesla Model S at the time.
During the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show in April, IM Motors unveiled 3 vehicles, a prototype of the IM L7, and concept model of the LS7, and a concept model of Airo a car designed by English designer, Thomas Heatherwick.
Their second model, the IM LS7 was officially launched in December 2022 with production starting in the second half of 2023. This was soon followed by the introduction of their third model, the LS6 which is an SUV Coupe variation of their flagship LS7.
Another milestone in the company’s short lifespan is its strategic cooperation with German manufacturer, Audi, in July 2023.
Interesting Facts About IM Motors
Despite being a company in its infancy, there are several cool facts about IM Motors. Did you know that Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba is one of the founding pillars of IM Motors? Also, the initial investment in the company by its shareholders added up to $1.4 billion.
In 2022, the company managed to sell around 5000 EVs. This number is expected to climb up to 45,000 in the following year due to the popular LS7 model. Sales could continue rapid growth once the company introduces its cheapest model yet, the LS5.
The drag coefficient plays an important role in determining the energy efficiency of EVs. On that front, the IM L7 has excellent design features that give the IM L7 a drag coefficient of 0.21, which makes the L7 the most aerodynamic vehicle in the world.
The previous best was the Mercedes Benz A Class Sedan with a drag coefficient of 0.22.
Where is IM Motors Made?
IM Motors is a Chinese automobile company and currently, all the manufacturing is done in China. With SAIC Motors being one of the founding companies of IM Motors, IM Motors vehicles are currently being manufactured in SAIC Motor’s Lingang production plant in Shanghai China.
All models including the IM L7, IM LS7, and IM LS6 are produced in this plant.
IM Motors Electric Cars
The current lineup of IM Motors consists of 3 models and all 3 of them are fully electric. As of now, there are no intentions to start manufacturing gas-powered cars or even plug-in hybrids.
IM Motors Models
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Now that we’ve got a basic understanding of IM Motors as a company, let’s focus on the vehicle models they offer individually.
IM L7
The IM L7 was revealed in April 2021 during the Shanghai Auto Show with production starting in early 2022. This model was intended to compete with the Tesla Model 3 in the domestic market of China.
The IM L7 has a sleek, modern design that is both futuristic and elegant. Everything from the headlights to the grill of the L7 is unique. On the inside, the L7 features a ton of high-end materials.
The car features 3 screens which include the LCD instrument panel, a 12.8-inch central control screen, and the co-pilot display. It also comes with what is known as “zero gravity seats” for added comfort.
Since you don’t have an engine to listen to while driving the IM L7, the car comes with 22 loudspeakers that have a combined output of 1,120W.
What sets the L7 apart from the rest of the EVs is its smart driving features. The L7 features the company’s signature IM AD intelligent driving system, which uses Nvidia’s Jetson Xavier chipset, LIDAR, 12 cameras, 5-millimeter wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. With this feature, the L7 can drive itself autonomously in freeways and also park itself.
The 425 kW of power that the L7 produces is enough to get you from 0-100 in under 3.9 seconds. This is also made possible cause the L7 has the most aerodynamic design you could find.
| Price: $64,000 | Release Year: 2022 |
| Motor: Twin motor setup (top trim level) | Power: 425kW / 570 bhp |
| Torque: 725 Nm | 0-100: 3.89 seconds |
| Range: 615 km |
IM LS6
The IM LS6 is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by IM Motors. It has a 5-door SUV coupe body style. The LS6 has a modern and aerodynamic design that is both appealing to the eye and also improves energy efficiency.
Even the door handles are hidden for battery aerodynamics. In the rear, you get an LED screen that incorporates all your rear lighting.
The interior of the LS6 is designed for comfort and luxury. IM Motors introduces what it calls the “full picture” digital cockpit on the LS6. The operating system that controls the screens on the interior is based on Linux and offers features like panoramic blind-spot vision enhancement, rain-night mode, and the GPT large model.
Autonomous parking and intelligent driving on highways extend from the IM L7 to the LS6 as well. IM Motors is also working on autonomous driving systems in Urban environments.
The LS6 comes in two trim levels both featuring a dual motor setup spreading the power to both axles. The more powerful variant produces a combined power output of 776 horsepower which can get the LS6 to speeds of up to 246 km/h.
| Price: $29,400 starting price | Release Year: 2023 |
| Motor: Twin motor setup | Power: 578kW /776 bhp |
| Torque: 800 Nm | 0-100: 3.48 seconds |
| Range: 706 km |
IM LS7
The LS7 is an electric SUV in the IM Motors lineup. The SUV was officially released in February 2023 and is currently available in 2 trim levels.
Just like the rest of the lineup, the LS7 was built to reduce drag as much as possible. The design is almost the same as the LS6 with the only difference being the body shape. You also get the IM AD intelligent driving system.
With the more powerful trim level of the LS7, you get a twin motor setup that generates 650 horsepower. On the other hand, the lesser variant uses a permanent magnet synchronous rear motor. The 100 kWh battery of the LS7 offers an impressive 660 km of range.
| Price: $52,000 starting price | Release Year: 2023 |
| Motor: Single / twin motor setup | Power: 484 kW / 650 bhp (higher trim level) |
| Torque: 725 Nm (higher trim level) | 0-100: 4.5 seconds |
| Range: 660 km (single motor variant) |
