On September 23rd, the automotive sector witnessed another “Wild Wednesday.” According to partial statistics, the day was packed with nine automotive launch events, featuring the new IM LS6, Qijing GX7, Tengshi Z9S, Changan Qiyuan Q06, Buick Zhijing E7X refresh, Weipai Gaoshan Wisdom Edition, Great Wall Menglong Plus Force Soul Edition, and Jetour Traveler 7. Among these, the first eight models were officially launched, while the last one was opened for pre-sale.

Looking at the broader picture from September 21st to September 30th, over 26 automotive launch events are on the calendar. The main reason for this flurry of activity is to leverage the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day Golden Week to draw customers to dealerships and gear up for year-end sales targets.

To distinguish themselves in a crowded market, automakers are pulling out all the stops, integrating cutting-edge technologies, maximizing features, and offering competitive pricing. The all-new IM LS6 exemplifies this approach, launching three models: Max, Pro Max, and Ultra, priced at 197,900 Yuan, 217,900 Yuan, and 259,900 Yuan respectively. These prices represent direct reductions of 5,000 to 12,000 Yuan from the initial pre-sale figures, a move that has been dubbed “game-changing” by netizens.

This aggressive pricing strategy paid off, with the all-new IM LS6 securing over 11,000 new orders within 57 minutes of its launch, even outpacing its previous pre-sale record of 8,000 orders in 45 minutes.

As the first family SUV under IM Motors' “NEXT·2028” strategy, the all-new LS6 emphasizes technology accessibility and standard features across all trims. It boasts the next-generation NEO three-electric architecture, next-generation full wire-controlled Lingxi chassis, and next-generation full-domain physical AI intelligence, bringing premium technology to the 200,000 Yuan price range for a differentiated competitive edge. This is the core competitive strategy of the all-new IM LS6. During the launch event, the phrase “standard across all trims” was mentioned approximately 11 times, highlighting its importance.

Firstly, in terms of the three-electric architecture, the all-new IM LS6 comes standard with the NEO Hurricane motor, 800V high-voltage platform, and IM ECU Master energy efficiency management system 3.0 across all trims. It achieves a minimum energy consumption of 12.7 kWh per 100 km, supports 396 kW ultra-fast charging, and can replenish 500 km of range in just 15 minutes, compatible with over 90% of charging stations on the market.

Regarding specific model configurations, all three launched models are pure electric. The Max version is equipped with a 76 kWh battery, offering a CLTC range of 650 km, rear-wheel drive with 245 kW, and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. The Pro Max version upgrades to a 93 kWh battery, extending the range to 782 km, with a motor power of 300 kW and a 0-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds. The Ultra version features a 103 kWh ternary lithium battery, providing a range of 750 km, all-wheel drive with a combined power of 500 kW, and accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.48 seconds.

Secondly, at the chassis level, the all-new IM LS6 is upgraded to the full wire-controlled Lingxi digital chassis 3.0, incorporating full wire-controlled steering. This offers aviation-grade triple safety redundancy, with a response time of 20 milliseconds for vector torque coordinated control. The standard intelligent four-wheel steering, with a bidirectional 18° range, allows this nearly 5-meter-long mid-to-large SUV to achieve a minimum turning radius of just 4.49 meters.

Previously, these technologies were only available in vehicles priced at 300,000 Yuan or more. For instance, Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, explicitly stated when promoting the i9's selling points: “(Wire-controlled steering and rear-wheel steering) are rare in 400,000 Yuan pure electric SUVs due to high costs, but they significantly enhance the driving experience.” The all-new IM LS6, however, brings these features to the sub-200,000 Yuan price range, making it the only SUV in this segment to feature wire-controlled steering. It even supports the industry's only adjustable steering ratio in three gears. Xu Yin, Deputy General Manager of IM Motors, described the driving experience of the all-new IM LS6 as “once you try it, you can't go back.”

In terms of intelligence, the all-new IM LS6 is equipped with the IM AD Zeta assisted driving system, built on Momenta's physical AI world model. The hardware combination of Orin-X chips and LiDAR is standard across all trims. It also debuts with a driver incapacity assisted driving system, which can autonomously pull over in emergencies to prevent accidents. The cabin is powered by a Qualcomm 8295P chip and introduces the industry's first IM Claw “Lobster Intelligence,” upgrading from single-command execution to multi-task continuous execution, with future plans to integrate with Alibaba's AI ecosystem.

Additionally, the all-new IM LS6 offers limited-time gifts such as a 4D mechanical massage seat for the driver, Danish B&O luxury audio, a smart dual-opening ice and warm refrigerator, and a dedicated 15.6-inch panoramic entertainment screen for the front passenger, maximizing the cabin experience.

The reason for such a comprehensive feature set and competitive pricing for the all-new IM LS6 is the fierce competition in its segment. It faces established benchmarks like the Tesla Model Y and new contenders like the Xiaomi YU7 and Li Auto i6, which consistently achieve monthly sales of over 10,000 units.

In fact, the IM LS6 once approached monthly sales of 10,000 units, serving as IM's sales leader. However, amid a constant stream of new market entrants, its recent sales have declined, hovering around 3,000 units per month, with a noticeable gap from the market leaders.

So, is the all-new LS6 competitive enough? From a product perspective, the answer is yes. In the 200,000 Yuan mid-to-large 5-seater pure electric SUV market, models with standard 800V include the XPeng G9L, VOYAH Zhiguang S, Li Auto i6, Xiaomi YU7, Audi E7X, and Luxeed R7. If we add rear-wheel steering, only the XPeng G9L, Audi E7X, and the all-new IM LS6 remain. If we further include high-level intelligent driving with LiDAR, the XPeng G9L is excluded. Adding wire-controlled steering as a condition leaves the all-new IM LS6 as the sole option. Moreover, it is the only model among these with a starting price below 200,000 Yuan. This configuration and pricing reflect IM's determination to break through the market.

IM is brimming with confidence in this vehicle. “The all-new IM LS6, embodying 70 years of SAIC Motor's expertise and all the latest technologies, is undoubtedly the best family SUV to buy in 2026. I dare say it sets the benchmark for 200,000 Yuan pure electric SUVs,” Xu Yin described the product strength of the all-new IM LS6.

Based on current order numbers and the vehicle's previous launch performance, the all-new IM LS6 is expected to perform well in initial sales. It will also be a key product for IM to achieve monthly sales of over 10,000 units again and meet year-end sales targets. However, the true test will come in four to six months, when it will be seen whether the all-new LS6 can break IM's “new vehicle curse.” This will also determine whether IM can sustain steady sales growth.