IM Motors took 8,000 refundable deposits within 45 minutes of opening pre-sales for the new-generation LS6 on Thursday evening, the SAIC-backed brand said on Weibo, as it brings steer-by-wire and an 800-volt platform to a Tesla Model Y rival priced from 209,900 yuan ($31,000).
The five-seat SUV goes on sale on September 23, Deputy General Manager Xu Yin said on Friday.
It is the first model under the “NEXT·2028” strategy IM set out earlier this year and the first in its class with a fully by-wire chassis as standard.
Three versions are on offer.
The Max, at 209,900 yuan, pairs a 76 kWh battery with a single rear motor for a CLTC range of 650 km and 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds.
The Pro Max, at 229,900 yuan ($34,300), uses a 93 kWh pack for 782 km and 5.4 seconds. The Ultra, at 264,900 yuan ($39,600), has a 103 kWh pack, dual motors, 750 km, 3.48 seconds, and is the only version with air suspension and adaptive damping.
The entry price is 7,000 yuan below the 216,900 yuan at which the previous version launched in September 2024.
Chassis
Every version has steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire and rear-wheel steering, giving a minimum turning radius of 4.49 meters.
IM introduced the system on the larger LS9 and LS8, which start at about 320,000 yuan.
The company says the architecture follows the same technical path as the Airbus A320, with dual power supplies, dual communication channels and dual hardware backups. The Model Y does not offer steer-by-wire.
The 800-volt platform supports charging at up to 396 kW, which IM says adds 500 km of range in 15 minutes. The powertrain is SAIC’s new NEO architecture with the brand’s “Hurricane” motor.
Driver assistance runs on Momenta’s physical AI world model. IM is offering its full IMAD package free for a limited period. Momenta supplies SAIC’s driver-assistance software across its brands, and its chief executive took delivery of SAIC’s 100 millionth vehicle in May.
The cabin adds an AI assistant IM calls “IM Claw,” a Bang & Olufsen audio system and a driver’s seat with mechanical massage.
The model is 4,937 mm long, 1,988 mm wide and 1,671 mm tall on a 2,960 mm wheelbase, 33 mm longer than the outgoing version with a 10 mm longer wheelbase.
Lineage
The LS6 first went on sale in October 2023 as IM’s volume model against the Model Y.
An updated version followed in September 2024, and a range-extender variant with a 66 kWh battery was added in September 2025.
Outside China the LS6 is sold as the IM6, in Thailand since March 2025, and under the MG badge in the UK and Australia.
IM has said it intends to enter Australia and New Zealand, the UK, Northern Europe and the Middle East with the LS6 and the L6 sedan.
It has not said when the new generation will be exported.
