IM Motors May 2026 sales reached 10,023 units, edging up from 10,016 in April for the brand’s second consecutive month above the 10,000-unit threshold. The performance keeps IM (Zhiji 智己) — SAIC’s premium new-energy sub-brand — on a year-to-date trajectory of +115% versus January–May 2025, and consolidates the operational turnaround that produced IM’s first full-cost-basis monthly profit in December 2025. With a refreshed six-nameplate line-up (L6, L7, LS6, LS7, LS8, LS9 Hyper) now in market and 44 new stores opened in April–May, IM is positioning itself as one of the few Chinese premium EV brands actually growing into the RMB 200,000–350,000 (USD 27,586–48,276) price band.
IM Motors May 2026 Sales: Headline Numbers
- May 2026 deliveries: 10,023 units
- April 2026 deliveries: 10,016 units (second straight 10K+ month)
- Jan–May 2026 YoY growth: +115%
- Profitability milestone: First full-cost-basis profit reached December 2025
- Cumulative IM LS6 lifetime sales: 100,000+ units (crossed in early 2026)
- LS8 launch (April 16): 8,000+ first-hour pre-orders; #1 EREV launch of April
- Retail footprint added Apr–May: 44 stores across 11 cities
- Overseas markets: 33 countries, 430+ stores
- Price band: RMB 189,900–488,000 (USD 26,193–67,310)
What Pushed IM Past 10,000 Twice in a Row
Three factors drove the back-to-back 10K result. First, the IM LS8 — launched 16 April 2026 — became the top-selling all-new EREV nameplate of its launch month, with 8,000+ first-hour pre-orders. By May, the LS8 had begun ramping into a meaningful share of monthly volume alongside the established LS6 SUV and L6 sedan. Second, a hard-cut “one-price” promotion brought the IM L6 sedan and IM LS6 SUV to a flat RMB 189,900 (USD 26,193) entry, drawing first-time premium EV buyers who had been cross-shopping the Xiaomi SU7, BYD Han, and Zeekr 007. Third, IM launched the LS6 SAIC 100-Millionth-Vehicle Limited Edition on 20 May 2026 — a 5,000-unit run priced at a limited-time RMB 211,900–231,900 (USD 29,228–31,986) — which began delivering in early June and locked in a wave of late-May orders.
IM Motors Product Line: Six Nameplates Across Two Segments
IM now operates a full six-nameplate matrix split evenly between sedans and SUVs.
Sedans: The IM L6 is the entry mid-size sedan, positioned against Xiaomi SU7, BYD Han EV, and Zeekr 007. The IM L7 is the original flagship liftback sedan dating to 2022 and now repositioned upmarket. SUVs: The IM LS6 is the volume-driver mid-size SUV that has already crossed 100,000 cumulative lifetime sales. The IM LS7 is the original full-size flagship SUV. The IM LS8 is the all-new April 2026 EREV-focused mid-large SUV. The IM LS9 Hyper, launched 12 November 2025, is the brand halo — a six-seat full-size SUV that became SAIC Group’s symbolic 100-millionth vehicle delivered (handed over to Momenta CEO Xudong Cao).
Powertrain configuration across the line is deliberately consistent: single-motor 245 kW or 300 kW rear-drive layouts for the entry trims, dual-motor AWD on higher trims, 76 kWh or 103 kWh battery options, and CLTC range of 650 km or 802 km on BEV variants. The LS8 introduces the brand’s first range-extended hybrid powertrain, opening IM to the EREV buyer pool that has driven much of Li Auto and Aito’s growth.
Five Months of Profitability and a +115% Run-Rate
The financial story behind the May volume number is more important than the volume itself. SAIC publicly confirmed that IM Motors hit its first full-cost-basis profit in December 2025 — meaning the brand covered not only variable cost but also depreciation, R&D amortisation, and overhead allocation. That is unusual for any premium Chinese EV start-up at IM’s volume scale; Nio, Xpeng, and Zeekr have all operated below break-even at comparable cumulative units. The Jan–May +115% YoY trajectory suggests IM is delivering operating leverage on top of that breakeven, rather than buying volume with margin-destroying discounts.
Overseas Footprint: 33 Countries, 2027 OTA Global Target
IM’s international rollout is now visible in 33 countries with more than 430 stores, anchored in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and selected Latin American markets. The brand has set a 2027 deadline for global OTA coverage — meaning every IM in every market on the same software stack — which would put it ahead of most Chinese premium peers on cross-border software parity. The export volume contribution remains small in absolute terms today but is expected to start showing meaningfully in the H2 2026 monthly numbers as the LS6 and L6 enter right-hand-drive markets.
IM Motors vs Chinese Premium NEV Peers (May 2026)
| Brand | May 2026 | YTD (Jan–May) | Primary Price Band (RMB) | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Li Auto | 40,856 | ~190,000 | 250K–600K | Independent |
| Aito (Wenjie) | 34,320 | ~170,000 | 250K–600K | Seres + Huawei |
| Xiaomi EV | 28,000+ | ~135,000 | 215K–530K | Xiaomi |
| NIO (main brand) | 23,231 | ~93,000 | 300K–800K | NIO Inc. |
| Zeekr | 18,908 | ~76,000 | 200K–800K | Geely |
| IM Motors (Zhiji) | 10,023 | ~46,000 | 190K–490K | SAIC |
| Avatr | 9,820 | ~45,000 | 260K–600K | Changan + CATL + Huawei |
| Luxeed (Zhijie) | 3,428 | ~13,800 | 240K–400K | Chery + Huawei |
Outlook: Can IM Sustain 10K and Push to 15K?
Three watch-items will determine whether IM can convert May’s milestone into a structural step-up. One, LS8 ramp curve — pre-order strength has been clear, but EREV production lines at SAIC’s Lingang plant need to clear the early-cycle bottleneck before LS8 can contribute its target 3,000–4,000 monthly units. Two, retail-network conversion — the 44 new stores opened in April–May are concentrated in 11 cities; the brand needs another 40–60 stores in Tier 2–3 cities by Q4 to capture the LS6 limited-edition tailwind. Three, LS9 Hyper sustainability — the November 2025 launch positioned LS9 as a halo, but maintaining 1,500–2,000 monthly units in the RMB 488,000 price band against Li Auto L9, Aito M9, and BYD Yangwang U8 is the real test of IM’s premium credibility.
FAQ: IM Motors May 2026 Sales
How many cars did IM Motors sell in May 2026?
10,023 units — the second consecutive month above 10,000 after April’s 10,016. Year-to-date through May, IM is up 115% versus the same period in 2025.
Is IM Motors profitable?
SAIC publicly confirmed that IM hit its first full-cost-basis profit in December 2025, covering variable cost plus depreciation, R&D amortisation, and overhead allocation. This is unusually early for a premium Chinese EV brand at IM’s current volume.
What is the difference between IM Motors and SAIC?
IM (Zhiji 智己) is SAIC Motor’s premium new-energy sub-brand, co-invested with Alibaba and Shanghai’s Zhangjiang High-Tech. SAIC as a whole sold roughly 360,000 vehicles in May 2026 across MG, Roewe, Maxus, SAIC-VW, SAIC-GM, and others; IM is the high-end EV slice and contributes about 3% of group volume but a much larger share of group premium-EV ASP.
How many models does IM Motors sell?
Six nameplates: IM L6 and L7 sedans, plus IM LS6, LS7, LS8, and LS9 Hyper SUVs. The LS6 is the volume leader (100,000+ cumulative), the LS8 is the April 2026 EREV launch, and the LS9 Hyper is the November 2025 full-size flagship.
Where does IM Motors sell overseas?
33 countries with 430+ stores, concentrated in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and parts of Latin America. The brand targets full global OTA software coverage by 2027.
Source: SAIC official release, IM Motors weekly delivery report, CnEVPost, Autohome.com.cn, 36Kr
Reviewed by Han Liu, Editor, iEVChina
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