IM Motors
IM Motors is a Shanghai-headquartered premium electric vehicle brand founded in 2020 by SAIC Motor, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, selling AI-enabled sedans and SUVs (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, IM5, IM6) to affluent consumers through owned retail stores in China and international channel partners in Southeast and South Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What IM Motors does
IM Motors (智己汽车) is a Shanghai-headquartered premium electric vehicle brand founded in 2020 as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The company designs, manufactures, and sells premium electric sedans and SUVs — including the L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, IM5, and IM6 — targeting affluent Chinese consumers and international premium EV buyers who prioritize advanced intelligent driving capabilities, distinctive vehicle dynamics, and luxury appointments.
The company's core technology stack centers on the proprietary Lizard Digital Chassis 3.0 (灵蜥数字底盘3.0) platform, which enables four-wheel steering with a unique crab-walk mode and underpins the brand's 45.4% market share in rear-wheel steering installations in China (Jan-Oct 2025). IM Motors integrates NVIDIA Thor automotive-grade processors for AI computation, the Momenta-powered IM AD Max advanced driver-assistance system, and the IM AIOS intelligent cockpit that delivers voice, gesture, and personalized in-vehicle experiences. Flagship vehicles feature proprietary 86% cabin space efficiency (LS9), WLTP-certified 505 km range (IM6), and 0-100 km/h in 3.48 seconds (IM6). The IM5 sedan competes directly against the Tesla Model 3, priced at S$218,888 in Singapore.
IM Motors operates a direct-to-consumer model through owned retail stores in prime shopping districts of major Chinese cities, having added 72 new locations in April-June 2026. Internationally, the brand distributes through channel partners including Evolution Auto in Sri Lanka, with additional market entries in Singapore and Pakistan. The brand is majority-owned by SAIC Motor — China's largest state-owned automaker with over 100 million cumulative vehicles produced — providing manufacturing scale, supply chain leverage, and an established distribution network. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of premium electric vehicles across the L and LS model lines, supplemented by after-sales services through the IM Care program.
IM Motors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IM Motors
- Legal name
- 智己汽车科技有限公司
- Website
- https://immotors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- IM Motors is a Shanghai-headquartered premium electric vehicle brand founded in 2020 by SAIC Motor, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, selling AI-enabled sedans and SUVs (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, IM5, IM6) to affluent consumers through owned retail stores in China and international channel partners in Southeast and South Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IM Motors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Electric Vehicles
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (336330)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EV Platform/Skateboard & Chassis Integration Manufacturing (IMACACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Automotive E/E Architecture Components Manufacturing (Domain/Zonal Controllers, Gateways, Network Switches) (IMACAJAI), Automotive Instrument Clusters, Displays & HMI Electronics Manufacturing (IMACAJAG)
Keywords
Where IM Motors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
IM Motors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Electric Vehicle Sales: IM Motors generates revenue primarily through the sale of premium electric vehicles, including sedans and SUVs across multiple model lines (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | IM5 sedan starting price in Singapore |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
IM Motors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IM Motors designs, manufactures, and sells premium battery-electric sedans and SUVs (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, IM5, IM6) equipped with proprietary intelligent driving and cockpit systems. Its lineup features the Lizard Digital Chassis 3.0 (灵蜥数字底盘3.0) with four-wheel steering and crab-walk mode, the Momenta-powered IM AD Max driver-assistance suite running on NVIDIA Thor chips, and the IM AIOS in-vehicle infotainment platform. The brand is positioned in the premium Chinese EV segment with direct-to-consumer sales through company-owned stores in major cities.
Product overview
IM Motors (智己汽车) is a premium electric vehicle brand established as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The company offers a portfolio of electric vehicles spanning sedans (L7, L6, IM5) and SUVs (LS9, LS8, LS6, LS7, IM6). Core technology offerings include the proprietary 灵蜥数字底盘3.0 digital chassis platform with four-wheel steering, IM AD Max assisted driving powered by Momenta, and IM AIOS intelligent cockpit system. The brand targets the premium EV segment with vehicles featuring advanced AI capabilities, extended range powertrains, and luxury interiors. IM Care provides comprehensive after-sales service support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IM LS9 (智己LS9) Flagship luxury electric SUV from IM Motors featuring rear-wheel steering, advanced driver-assistance systems, three electric motors, and four-wheel steering with crab-walk capability. It targets premium Chinese EV buyers seeking flagship technology and luxury appointments.
- IM LS8 (智己LS8) Premium electric SUV featuring four-wheel steering, NVIDIA Thor chip, and advanced AI driver-assistance systems. Achieved over 10,000 small orders within 45 minutes of its pre-sales launch.
- IM LS6 (智己LS6) Mid-size premium electric SUV that drove IM Motors' commercial breakthrough, reaching 8,156 units in monthly sales by late 2023.
- IM LS7 (智己LS7) Premium electric SUV in the IM Motors lineup.
- IM L6 (智己L6) Intelligent premium electric sedan featuring smart glass roof (瞬感天幕) technology, positioned as a technology-forward sedan in the IM Motors lineup.
- IM L7 (智己L7) Premium electric sedan in the IM Motors product lineup.
- IM5 (智己IM5) Full-sized premium electric sedan incubated by SAIC Motor with Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. Features 440 km range, a 26.3-inch screen, four-wheel steering enabling crab-walk, and a 75 kWh LFP battery. Positioned as a premium alternative to the Tesla Model 3, with international availability in markets such as Singapore.
- IM6 (智己IM6) Luxury mid-size all-electric crossover SUV delivering 741 hp, 0–100 km/h in 3.48 seconds, and a 505 km WLTP range. Joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech.
- IM Care Comprehensive ownership and after-sales service program for IM Motors vehicle owners.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45.4% market share in rear-wheel steering installations in China
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IM Motors
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
IM Motors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
IM Motors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SAIC MotorcoreSAIC Motor is the parent company and primary investor in IM Motors, holding majority ownership through subsidiary structures. SAIC delivered its 100 millionth vehicle—an IM LS9 Hyper extended-range SUV—to Momenta CEO, marking a significant milestone for the premium brand within SAIC's portfolio.
- Evolution AutominorEvolution Auto serves as IM Motors' distribution partner in Sri Lanka, featuring the brand in their flagship multi-brand EV showroom in Colombo, representing the vehicle brand alongside other Chinese EV manufacturers including Avatr, Xpeng, and Riddara.
- MomentacoreMomenta provides intelligent driving technology for IM Motors vehicles through the IM AD Max system. The companies maintain deep cross-shareholding ties, with Momenta CEO Cao Xudong receiving the 100 millionth SAIC vehicle—an IM LS9 Hyper SUV—highlighting the strategic importance of this technology partnership.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IM Motors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NIO: Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer targeting affluent Chinese consumers with sedans and SUVs and advanced battery-swap/ADAS technology. Closest direct competitor to IM Motors in positioning, price band, and tech-led premium differentiation.
- Li Auto: Chinese premium EV maker focused on extended-range SUVs and family-oriented premium vehicles. Direct competitor to IM Motors' SUV-heavy lineup in the Chinese premium segment with overlapping target buyer profile.
- HiPhi: Human Horizons' premium Chinese EV brand focusing on technology-rich, design-led premium vehicles. Comparable technology-and-luxury positioning targeting the same upper-tier Chinese EV buyers.
- Zeekr: Geely's premium EV brand selling smart EVs in China and internationally. Directly comparable as a Chinese premium EV OEM with aggressive technology and design positioning similar to IM Motors.
- Avatr: Premium EV joint venture between Changan, Huawei, and CATL selling in the Chinese premium segment. Co-listed alongside IM Motors at Evolution Auto's Sri Lanka showroom, indicating similar international rollout targeting.
- XPeng: Chinese smart-EV maker with strong in-house ADAS (XNGP) and intelligent cockpit capabilities, competing in the same mid-to-premium price bands as IM Motors with comparable technology-led value proposition.
- Voyah: Dongfeng's premium EV brand offering premium SUVs and sedans including extended-range EVs. Competes head-to-head with IM Motors' LS-series SUVs in the Chinese premium NEV market.
Broad incumbents
- BYD: China's largest EV maker with broad portfolio spanning mass-market to premium (Yangwang, Denza). Provides the pricing benchmark and scale that shapes IM Motors' competitive environment.
- Tesla: Global premium EV benchmark referenced in IM Motors' Singapore pricing strategy (IM5 priced ~S$31K above Tesla Model 3). Sets the technology and brand standard IM Motors competes against in international premium markets.
Emerging players
- AION: GAC's EV-focused brand covering mass-market to upper-mainstream EVs in China. Overlaps with IM Motors on EV technology (battery, motor) but targets a broader and more price-sensitive buyer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IM Motors social profiles
Digital presenceIM Motors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IM Motors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
IM Motors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IM Motors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IM Motors
What does IM Motors do?
IM Motors designs, manufactures, and sells premium battery-electric sedans and SUVs (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9, IM5, IM6) equipped with proprietary intelligent driving and cockpit systems. Its lineup features the Lizard Digital Chassis 3.0 (灵蜥数字底盘3.0) with four-wheel steering and crab-walk mode, the Momenta-powered IM AD Max driver-assistance suite running on NVIDIA Thor chips, and the IM AIOS in-vehicle infotainment platform. The brand is positioned in the premium Chinese EV segment with direct-to-consumer sales through company-owned stores in major cities.
Is IM Motors a public or private company?
IM Motors is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was IM Motors founded?
IM Motors was founded in 2020. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is IM Motors based?
IM Motors is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does IM Motors make money?
One revenue line is on record: electric Vehicle Sales.
Who are IM Motors's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NIO, Li Auto, HiPhi, Zeekr, Avatr, XPeng and Voyah. Broad incumbents are BYD and Tesla. AION is listed as an emerging player.
Does IM Motors have an API?
No public API is recorded for IM Motors.
What industry is IM Motors in?
IM Motors's product category is Premium Electric Vehicles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACACAI, EV Platform/Skateboard & Chassis Integration Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMACAJAI, Automotive E/E Architecture Components Manufacturing (Domain/Zonal Controllers, Gateways, Network Switches). Its NAICS code is 33632 and its SIC code is 3711.