Fast technology news on June 7th, following after AVITAR, another new force in the automotive industry is set to embrace extended-range technology and introduce hybrid powertrains. It is none other than ZIMO Motors.

According to 36Kr AUTO, ZIMO's first extended-range model will be an SUV, scheduled for release in the first quarter of next year, and will compete with the Ideal L7. An insider revealed, "The extended-range project was initiated in the second half of last year, and the first vehicle intends to quickly capture the market with an SUV positioning."

Another source close to ZIMO revealed that ZIMO's first extended-range product will be derived from the E1 platform architecture within the SAIC Motor Group, "This platform architecture can accommodate larger battery packs and series architectures."

Notably, in the second half of last year, Liu Tao, the co-CEO of ZIMO Motors, expressed his recognition of extended-range technology in an interview with the media, "We believe that in the next three to five years, or even five to eight years, extended-range products will have their market potential." Liu Tao also revealed that ZIMO's fifth product will adopt extended-range power.

Currently, ZIMO has a total of 4 models on sale, namely ZIMO L7, LS7, ZIMO L6, and LS6, forming a pure electric matrix of "2 sedans + 2 SUVs," but the selection of pure electric vehicles is clearly not broad enough.

Data shows that in the past year, the cumulative sales of extended-range products reached 620,000 units, an increase of 186% year-on-year, achieving a three-digit growth rate for three consecutive years. Compared to the 87% growth rate of plug-in hybrids and the 24% growth rate of pure electric vehicles, extended-range technology has the fastest growth rate, leaving enough room for the market.

Interestingly, Li Xiang, the CEO of Ideal Motors, publicly expressed his view last year that "Chinese independent brands that still insist on multi-speed PHEV will all switch to extended-range technology routes in the next one or two years. This prediction can be verified by 2025."

It is foreseeable that under the current fiercely competitive market conditions, ZIMO will not be the last new force to embrace extended-range hybrids. Apart from NIO, Tesla, and others who are still adhering to pure electric vehicles, others are likely to enter the hybrid route.