A little over a year ago, Elon Musk stated that he was not afraid of the competition that American, German or Japanese brands represented for Tesla. In his opinion, the big danger comes from China, where car manufacturers “work harder and smarter.” And the facts prove the tycoon right.
Chinese firms are breaking into the global market with great force, offering quality, attractive products at reasonable prices. There is a very clear fact that demonstrates this and justifies Musk's fear: in the fourth quarter of 2023, BYD unseated Tesla as the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles. This automobile group, founded by Wang Chuanfu, is one of the most important in China. Another of them is SAIC Motor, which has announced the launch of its premium electric car brand IM (Intelligent Mobility) in Europe in 2025. These cars will compete with Tesla models, as well as those from Mercedes or Audi.
The official presentation of the brand, which arrives in Europe with the help of MG, will take place on February 26 at the Geneva Motor Show, where the IM L6 saloon (equivalent to the Tesla Model 3) is scheduled to debut worldwide. . Few data have emerged about this car, except that it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds and has a range that, depending on the configuration, exceeds 800 kilometers.
The IM Motors range already has three alternatives: the LS6 SUV, its older brother LS7 and the L7 large sedan. The first of them was launched on the Chinese market last October with two mechanical configurations: one of 250 kW (335 HP) with front-wheel drive and another of 579 kW (776 HP) with all-wheel drive. Depending on the battery chosen, it can travel up to 700 kilometers on a single charge. The car supports 800 volt fast charges, allowing you to get up to 200 km in 5 minutes of connection.
One of the most notable features of the IM models is found in their interior, which is highly digitalized. In addition to a large screen located on the center console, there are several that mounted adjacently occupy the entire length of the dashboard. The steering wheel of the SUV variants is Yoke type, similar to the one Tesla mounted on the Model S Plaid. It remains to be seen if he maintains it for the specimens that arrive in the Old Continent and opts to mount one with a more traditional ring.
At the Swiss event, these examples will share a stand with the MG 3 Hybrid, which will be the brand's big novelty for 2024. As reported by the company in January, the HEV hybrid technology used in the model will allow it to triple its electric range thanks to a large capacity battery. Likewise, it will be able to reach a top speed of almost 100 km/h in 100% electric mode.
