Premium electric brand launched in 2020 as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. Sold domestically as IM, badged in Chinese as Zhiji, and exported under the MG name in some overseas markets.
The IM L6 is IM Motors' electric fastback sedan, renewed for 2026 and taken to pre-sale in August. Three trims run from a 333 hp rear-drive version with 725 km of CLTC range to a 680 hp all-wheel-drive Ultra, all on an 800V architecture with peak charging quoted at 396 kW. Pre-sale guide prices start at ¥229,900.
The IM LS8 is a full-size extended-range electric SUV, IM Motors' flagship. Four trims run from a 308 hp rear-drive version with 355 km of CLTC electric range to a 523 hp all-wheel-drive version with 430 km, plus a 1.5-litre range extender for up to 1,605 km combined. Prices start from ¥249,800.
IM Motors builds premium electric cars in Shanghai under a joint venture SAIC Motor registered in December 2020 with e-commerce group Alibaba and state investment firm Zhangjiang Hi-Tech. The company’s Chinese name is Zhiji Automobile, and “IM” - short for “Intelligence in Motion” - is the English brand used on cars sold in China and most export markets.
The lineup sits above SAIC’s other marques in price and positioning: the L-series sedans (L6, L7) and LS-series SUVs (LS6, LS8) compete with premium electric brands such as Nio and Zeekr rather than the mainstream crossovers MG and Roewe build. SAIC has also begun re-badging select IM models as MG for overseas buyers who recognize that name better - the IM L6 sells abroad as the MG IM5, and the IM LS6 as the MG IM6, so the same car can carry three names across its Chinese, domestic-English and export identities.
Within SAIC’s structure, IM Motors operates alongside MG, the group’s global export brand, plus Roewe, Wuling and Maxus, each aimed at a different segment or market.
