IM LS8 Owners Protest After Paid Upgrades Turn Free Within a Month of Launch

The IM LS8 officially launched on April 16, 2026, with a price range of RMB 249,800 to RMB 299,800. At launch, the company offered a “Luxury Smart Selection Package” priced at RMB 9,800, which included a 520-line ultra-wide-field LiDAR, a Danish Bang & Olufsen audio system, driver’s seat massage function, 21-inch wheels, and a color head-up display. Some of the first batch of customers paid for this optional package when purchasing their vehicles. Over a month after launch, IM Motors introduced a new policy: customers who placed and locked in new orders between June 1 and June 30, 2026, and fully settled payment by July 31, would receive the optional package free of charge. This move sparked dissatisfaction among early adopters who had already paid for the package. Affected owners reported inconsistent explanations from IM Motors’ various channels: official customer service initially stated that customers locking in orders in June would receive the package for free, but later revised this to say it applied only to showroom display vehicles. Staff at some experience centers acknowledged the free offer but said they “dared not state it openly for fear of manufacturer price audits.” Other dealerships claimed customers could apply for discounts through store managers. On June 14, 2026, 115 early buyers issued a joint statement raising concerns about changes to purchase benefits, adjustments to the optional package policy, handling of retired display vehicles, and inconsistent sales communications. On June 16, they released a second joint statement, noting they had received no substantive response from the company and that the number of signatories had exceeded 200. The protesting owners outlined five key demands: full public disclosure of the eligibility criteria for the optional package; establishment of an official traceability mechanism for retired display vehicles; equivalent compensation for early buyers; internal review and accountability for the policy confusion; and rebuilding of a user rights protection mechanism for existing customers. As of June 17, IM Motors had not issued any public response to these concerns.