IM Motors NEXT·2028 Strategy Unveils New EV Technology Roadmap

On August 21, IM Motors Technology Co., Ltd (IM Motors), a subsidiary of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, introduced its IM Motors NEXT·2028 Strategy at the 2026 Chengdu Motor Show. The strategy establishes a technology roadmap for the company’s future vehicle lineup, combining a new electric powertrain architecture, a fully by-wire chassis, and an AI-based vehicle agent. The new IM LS6 is positioned as a key model within the strategy and is scheduled for an official launch in September. IM Motors said the three technology pillars will become standard across its future models, creating a common technical foundation for improvements in propulsion, chassis control, intelligent functions, and automated driving capabilities.

NEO Electric Powertrain Brings Efficiency and 800 V Capability

The next-generation NEO electric powertrain architecture introduces upgrades across the electric drive system, thermal management system, electrical architecture, and software. Its new NEO Hurricane Motor series increases overall electric-drive efficiency under the CLTC by 2.8% while reducing motor weight by 8%. The architecture is also paired with Energy Efficiency Management System 3.0 to support more comprehensive energy management. A full-domain 800 V high-voltage platform forms another major element of the system, with IM Motors stating that it enables full-power charging at more than 90% of charging stations currently available on the market. These upgrades are intended to improve efficiency, charging compatibility, and overall electric vehicle performance.

Fully By-Wire Chassis Adds Redundant Safety Architecture

The fully by-wire chassis is planned as standard equipment across the future lineup and incorporates triple safety redundancy designed to support rapid system responses. IM Motors states that the chassis can respond in approximately 20 milliseconds, which it describes as more than 10 times faster than human instinctive reactions. The architecture is designed not only to improve vehicle control but also to enable proactive, system-level risk mitigation. By replacing conventional mechanical control dependencies with electronically managed functions, the platform provides the hardware foundation required for more advanced vehicle intelligence. IM Motors also positions the architecture as an important enabler for future AI agents and higher levels of automated driving, including L3 and L4 systems.

IM Claw AI Agent Expands Intelligent Vehicle Functions

Future models will receive a comprehensive upgrade in intelligent capabilities through the IM Claw AI agent. The system is designed to interpret ambiguous user intentions, reason through requested actions, and coordinate multiple agents to complete more complex tasks. For example, a single command can be used to plan a trip that includes several passenger pickups and additional stops, with the system dynamically adjusting the journey as conditions change. This approach moves beyond conventional voice-command functions by connecting user intent with planning and execution. The broader strategy places AI at the center of the vehicle experience, with intelligent functions becoming an integrated capability across the future IM Motors lineup rather than an isolated software feature.

IM AD ZETA Targets Higher-Level Assisted Driving

For intelligent driving, the future lineup will feature IM AD ZETA, which is planned to be fully compatible with the world model developed by Beijing Momenta Technology Co., Ltd (Momenta). IM Motors says the system will provide three to four times as many parameters as current mainstream solutions, alongside a 20-fold increase in its performance ceiling. The company expects this expanded computing and model capability to bring functions associated with L4 automated driving models into L2 assisted-driving applications. The approach reflects a broader effort to use more advanced AI models within consumer vehicles while maintaining the current classification of assisted driving. The strategy therefore combines higher AI capability with the underlying by-wire vehicle architecture needed to support future automation.

Future IM Motors Models Will Share a Common Technology Foundation

The NEXT·2028 product strategy establishes a unified technical direction for IM Motors Technology Co., Ltd, with the NEO electric powertrain, fully by-wire chassis, and IM Claw AI agent forming the core architecture. The combination connects propulsion efficiency, vehicle control, safety redundancy, AI interaction, and intelligent driving within a common platform strategy. The new IM LS6 is the first key model identified under the roadmap and is scheduled for launch in September. By making the three technology pillars standard across future models, IM Motors is positioning its next generation of vehicles around shared technologies rather than model-specific systems. The strategy also provides a foundation for progressively expanding automated-driving capabilities as supporting software and AI technologies develop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IM Motors NEXT·2028 Strategy?
The IM Motors NEXT·2028 Strategy is a product and technology roadmap introduced at the 2026 Chengdu Motor Show that establishes three core technology pillars for the company’s future vehicle lineup. These include the NEO electric powertrain architecture, a fully by-wire chassis with triple safety redundancy, and the IM Claw AI agent. The strategy also incorporates IM AD ZETA for advanced intelligent driving and is designed to make these technologies standard across future models. The new IM LS6 is scheduled to become a key model under the strategy when it launches in September.