The updated LS6 -- a Tesla Model Y competitor -- received more than 6,000 orders in its first 12 hours on the market.
IM Motors, the electric vehicle (EV) unit of SAIC Motor Corp, has launched the updated LS6 electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) to compete with Tesla's (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model Y.
The EV maker officially rolled out the updated LS6 at a launch event yesterday, which saw some significant upgrades in features over its predecessor.
IM Motors is offering five variants of the model with a starting guide price of RMB 239,900 ($34,220), RMB 262,900, RMB 277,900, RMB 277,900, and RMB 302,900 respectively.
That starting price is an increase of RMB 10,000 from the starting price of RMB 229,900 when pre-sales began on August 30, and is also higher than the RMB 229,900 starting price of its predecessor.
Notably, IM Motors said that customers who order the model before October 8 can have the final payment reduced by 25,000 yuan by paying a RMB 2,000 deposit.
After taking that discount into account, IM Motors said the limited-time discounted starting prices for the updated LS6 are RMB 216,900, RMB 239,900, RMB 254,900, RMB 254,900, and RMB 279,900, respectively.
Earlier today, the company announced on Weibo that the updated LS6 received more than 6,000 orders in its first 12 hours of availability.
The LS6 is a mid-to-large-size SUV with length, width and height of 4,910 mm, 1,988 mm and 1,669 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 4,910 mm.
The model comes with four-wheel steering, giving it a Mini Cooper S-like ultra-small turning radius, according to the company.
Only the highest priced variant of the model comes with a dual-motor four-wheel drive powertrain, while all other variants are single-motor rear-wheel drive models.
It can accelerate from 0-100 kilometers per hour in 5.4 seconds or 6.4 seconds for the single-motor version and 3.48 seconds for the four-wheel-drive version.
The entry-level version of the updated LS6 is based on the regular 400 V platform and is powered by a lithium iron phosphate battery pack with a capacity of 75 kWh and a CLTC range of 625 kilometers.
The other variants are built on 800 V or quasi-900 V high-voltage platforms and are powered by lithium ternary battery packs with a capacity of 83 kWh or 100 kWh and a CLTC range of 701 to 802 kilometers.
The SUV's intelligent driving system is powered by components including Nvidia's Orin X chip as well as LiDAR.
The LS6 was initially launched on October 12, 2023, when it was offered in four variants with a starting price of RMB 229,900, RMB 249,900, RMB 273,900, and RMB 291,900 respectively.
In January this year, IM Motors began offering a RMB 12,000 cash discount on the LS6.
IM Motors aims to sell more than 10,000 units of the updated LS6 per month, its CMO Li Weimeng said yesterday.
The company will launch extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models in 2025 and will release more information on smart driving in mid-to-late October, Li said.
In August, IM Motors delivered 6,117 vehicles, up 239.27 percent year-on-year and up 1.66 percent from July, according to data it released earlier this month.
IM Motors to launch 1st EREV model in Q1 2025 to take on Li Auto's Li L7, report says
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