Alibaba-backed startup IM launches first SUV

IM Motors, a joint venture among China's SAIC Motor, Alibaba and Shanghai's Zhangjiang Group, launched the LS7 on Friday in Mile city in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

The premium electric marque is offering five variants of the large-sized SUV at prices ranging from 329,800 yuan to 459,800 yuan ($67,544). It is expected to be delivered from March.

A sixth variant with a 77 kilowatt-hour-battery will start pre-sales in the second half of this year to meet the demands of urban commuting, the carmaker said.

The five-seat SUV is 5,049 millimeters long with the wheelbase stretching to 3,060 mm. Depending on battery size, it can run 550-660 kilometers on one charge.

The carmaker said that more than 70 percent of users consider a large field of vision their top reason for choosing an SUV, as it provides a better sense of control and safety.

As such, the LS7 boasts an IMAX-level driving view with a "Star Fall" domed roof, which it said involves similar technology and manufacturing equipment in the production of China's large C919 airliner.

The model also features the first domestically mass-produced "YAT cruise semi-width steering wheel" and an innovative height-adjustable screen.

In terms of intelligent technology, the LS7 is equipped with an NVIDIA OrinX high-performance chip, dual lidar sensors and a Qualcomm 8155 chip.

According to the carmaker, pre-sales orders of the LS7 has reached more than 10,000.

The LS7 is the second model of IM Motors, which launched the L7 sedan in April 2022. Since its delivery back in June 2022, sales of the model have reached around 5,000 units.