Another new player enters the extended - range vehicle market. IM Motors unveils its super extended - range technology.

What's the future for IM Motors in the range-extended vehicle market?

On the evening of August 1st, IM Motors held a press conference for its super range-extended technology, officially announcing its entry into the range-extended vehicle segment.

At the conference, IM Motors unveiled SAIC's self-developed super range-extended technology - the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System. It features a pure-electric range of over 450 km, a fuel consumption of as low as 5.32 L per 100 km in power deficit, a 66 kWh large range-extended battery co-developed with CATL, and an 800V ultra-fast charging high-voltage platform.

IM Motors also stated that on August 15th, the pre-sale of the new-generation IM LS6, the brand's first range-extended model, will start. The IM LS9, the first six-seater flagship range-extended SUV, will make its debut in the fourth quarter.

In the highly competitive range-extended vehicle market, can IM Motors carve out a share for itself?

"Leave the anxiety to gasoline cars"

"We're not just making a range-extended vehicle; we're creating a new type of electric vehicle. It's a new category - a range-extended vehicle that comes with its own ultra-fast charging station," said Xiang Jiao, the Chief Technology Officer of IM Motors and the Dean of IM Motors' Intelligent Research Institute, at the press conference.

According to Xiang Jiao, the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System offers a pure-electric range of over 450 km and a comprehensive range of 1500 km. In terms of energy replenishment, with the support of the 800V high-voltage platform, it can add 310 km of range in just 15 minutes of charging.

In terms of the battery, the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System is equipped with the Super Xiaoyao MAX battery co-developed by IM Motors and CATL. Jiao Qiao, the Senior Director of Brand and User at IM Motors, said at the press conference that with a capacity of 66 kWh, the Super Xiaoyao MAX battery can provide the range equivalent to three Tesla Model Ys with the power of one.

In terms of fuel consumption, the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System achieves a fuel consumption of 5.32 L per 100 km in power deficit and a comprehensive fuel consumption of only 2.07 L per 100 km. Jiao Qiao said that the all-scenario AI energy management system of the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System can intelligently switch between gasoline and electricity, "providing users with an electric vehicle experience throughout the journey and not using a single drop of gasoline when electricity is available," and "eliminating the last concerns of gasoline car users and leaving the anxiety to gasoline cars."

Regarding the issue of high idle noise in range-extended vehicles, Jiao Qiao said that the idle noise inside the vehicle with the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System is below 36 dB, solving the pain point of loud noise from the range extender in the idle state of range-extended vehicles.

IM LS9. Image source: IM Motors' official Weibo

It is reported that the "Stellar" Super Range-Extended System will be first installed in the new-generation IM LS6, which is also IM Motors' first range-extended model. The new-generation IM LS6 will also be equipped with the new-generation Lingxi Digital Chassis and other configurations, and its pre-sale press conference will be held on August 15th. In addition, the flagship range-extended SUV, the IM LS9, will debut in the fourth quarter.

Shidai Finance sent an interview request to IM Motors regarding the approximate pricing range and sales targets of the range-extended models, but did not receive a reply as of press time.

The challenges behind IM Motors' entry into the range-extended market

Behind its decision to enter the range-extended vehicle segment, IM Motors is facing new challenges. In the first half of this year, IM Motors sold a total of 19,158 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 14.67%. In 2024, the annual sales volume of IM Motors was 65,503 vehicles.

In SAIC Group's 2024 annual report, SAIC Group stated that IM Motors aims to "increase its annual sales by 50%" in 2025. Based on the 2024 sales data of 65,503 vehicles, IM Motors' annual sales target for this year is 98,255 vehicles, which means that currently IM Motors has only completed about 20% of its annual sales target.

It is worth noting that the first SUV of the Shangjie brand, a joint venture between SAIC and Huawei, is also a range-extended model. On July 16th, Yu Chengdong, the Executive Director of Huawei and the Chairman of Huawei Terminal BG, revealed on social media that the first model of the Shangjie brand, the Shangjie H5, will be launched in the market in September this year. The vehicle information released by Shangjie Automobile on July 28th shows that the Shangjie H5 is a range-extended SUV with a pure-electric range of 230 km and a comprehensive range of over 1300 km.

Shangjie H5. Image source: Shangjie Automobile's official Weibo

Minsheng Securities pointed out that the Shangjie H5 is positioned in the price range of 150,000 - 250,000 yuan, marking Huawei's penetration from the high-end market (AITO M9) and the mid - high - end market (ZhiJie R7) to the mass market, and improving its ecological layout of "full price - band coverage." Huawei is expected to empower with core technologies such as intelligent driving and cockpits and use its marketing and channel capabilities to help SAIC boost sales.

As early as the HarmonyOS Smart Mobility new product launch conference in mid - April this year, when Yu Chengdong first officially announced the "fifth brand" Shangjie of HarmonyOS Smart Mobility, SAIC Group said that it would invest 6 billion yuan in the Shangjie brand in the first phase, form a dedicated Shangjie team of over 5,000 people, and build a dedicated super factory for it.

Zhang Junyi, the CFO of SenseTime JUE, told Shidai Finance: "Both Shangjie and IM are very important to SAIC. However, with the successful experience of other HarmonyOS Smart Mobility brands in front, and considering that Shangjie targets the mainstream price range while IM is a high - end new energy brand, SAIC may rely more on Shangjie from the perspective of new car sales volume."

However, in SAIC Group's 2024 annual report, SAIC Group stated that IM Motors should "take the opportunity of the launch of new medium - and large - sized range - extended SUVs to scale up and enhance its influence" in 2025, and now it's time to fulfill this goal.

Currently, the range - extended vehicle segment is also full of challenges.

Data from the China Passenger Car Association shows that in 2024, the cumulative sales volume of range - extended models was 1.167 million vehicles, a year - on - year increase of 78.7%. In the first half of this year, the cumulative sales volume of range - extended models was 538,000 vehicles, a year - on - year increase of 16.5%, and the growth rate has significantly slowed down.

In terms of market share, in the first half of this year, the market share of domestic range - extended vehicles was about 9.8%, while in 2024, this figure was 10.7%, indicating a downward trend in the share of range - extended vehicles.

Despite the slowdown in sales growth and market share decline, the range - extended vehicle segment has become more crowded, and the competition is intensifying. Among domestic brands, both Xiaomi Auto and XPeng Motors have planned range - extended models, and joint - venture brands have also joined the range - extended camp, including FAW - Volkswagen's ID. AURA, SAIC Volkswagen's ID. ERA, Volkswagen Anhui's ID. EVO, the extended - range version of Changan Mazda EZ - 6, and Buick Zhijing L7. At the GAC Toyota Technology Day on June 12th this year, GAC Toyota also announced that the new - generation Highlander and Sienna will launch extended - range models.

"From the perspective of market demand and user experience, IM's layout of range - extended models is correct. There are many relevant models in the market. For IM to significantly increase its sales through range - extended models, it needs to have a model that dominates a certain price range or niche market," Zhang Junyi added.

This article is from the WeChat public account "Shidai Finance APP" (ID: tf - app), author: Chen Ziqing, published by 36Kr with authorization.