AP

Chinese e-commerce group Alibaba has stepped up its involvement in China's electric vehicle sector, launching a sedan with wireless charging under a new brand formed together with SAIC Motor, the country's largest car company.

The sedan unveiled under the brand IM – for "intelligence in motion" – was developed by a joint venture between Alibaba, state-owned SAIC and Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Development, an investment arm of the city government.

The IM sedan features a new solid-state battery from Contemporary Amperex Technology, China's largest battery maker, with a higher energy density than those in use now, as well as chips from U.S. tech group Nvidia.

The vehicle will be able to self-park and include smartphone functions such as photo-shooting and social media sharing.

IM will start taking preorders in April during the annual Shanghai auto show. A second model, a sports unit vehicle, is targeted for delivery in 2022.

Source: asia.nikkei.com