IM Motors has become the second EV maker to connect to Nio's charging network this month after GAC Aion's Hyper brand.
Nio's (NYSE: NIO) charging network sees SAIC Motor Corp's electric vehicle (EV) unit IM Motors become the latest to tap into it, as more local automakers try to capitalize on one of China's largest EV replenishment networks.
Nio Power, the energy arm of Nio, and IM Motors entered into a partnership on May 30 to interconnect their charging networks, according to a statement Nio posted on its mobile app today.
Starting May 30, IM Motors users will be able to view and use Nio's charging piles via their IM Motors App or the charging map on the car's screen.
They can view the location, price, status, and usage of Nio's charging piles in real time in IM Motors' software, and complete operations including scanning QR codes, charging, and payment.
Nio has one of the largest charging networks in China. As of May 30, the company had 3,863 charging stations in China, providing 22,551 charging piles.
Nio's charging piles include fast superchargers as well as destination chargers with slower charging speed. It now has 1,630 superchargers located along highways in China.
The company's charging piles are open to all EV users, with more than 80 percent serving non-Nio-branded EVs, it said, repeating earlier statements.
Although Nio didn't emphasize it, other car companies are working directly with it to help provide a better charging experience, such as using Nio charging piles directly through those companies' apps or maps in the in-vehicle screens.
IM Motors becomes the second EV maker to access Nio's charging network this month after GAC Aion's Hyper brand.
On May 9, Nio announced that it and Hyper would interconnect their respective charging networks by the end of May.
Prior to Hyper, companies including SAIC, Jiyue, Geely Automobile Holdings, and Deepal have announced access to Nio's charging network.
Nio is better known for its signature battery swap stations than its widely distributed charging stalls.
As of today, Nio has 2,427 battery swap stations in China, of which 802 are located near highways.
On May 22, state-owned automotive giant China FAW Group entered into an agreement with Nio for battery swap, becoming the seventh company to join the latter's battery swap alliance.
IM Motors was founded on November 26, 2020 by SAIC, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech and Alibaba, with SAIC holding a majority stake.
In June 2022 IM Motors began deliveries of its first model, the IM L7, the mid-to-large-size pure electric sedan that is a Nio ET7 rival.
IM Motors' other two models, the IM LS6 and IM LS7, are SUVs.
On May 13, IM Motors launched its fourth model and second sedan, the IM L6, with a starting price of RMB 219,900 ($30,330)
($1 = RMB 7.2496)
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