SAIC Motor IM L7 History

IM Motors (Zhiji Motor in Chinese) was established in December 2020 as a joint venture between SAIC Motor, Alibaba Group, and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech, and formally launched on January 13, 2021. The IM L7 was the brand's founding model, presented as a prototype at Auto Shanghai in April 2021 and entering production in early 2022. A full-size battery-electric executive saloon targeting Tesla Model S-class buyers, the L7 led with a 93 kWh battery offering up to approximately 382 miles of range on Chinese test cycles.

The L7 positioned IM Motors at the premium end of China's crowded EV market, competing with NIO and XPENG in the luxury segment. SAIC delivered the 100 millionth vehicle produced by the broader SAIC group in May 2026 — the IM LS9 Hyper — a milestone that underlines IM Motors' role as the group's aspirational flagship brand.