Chinese brand Nio is paving the way in which for its UK launch this yr following the beginning of right-hand drive (RHD) mass production of its electric Firefly supermini.
Firefly is Nio’s sub-brand which is being positioned as an all-electric rival for Mini and the Renault 5.
Nio has already launched left-hand drive versions within the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium and has been gearing as much as launch within the UK for a while.
The Firefly is powered by a 143hp motor, a 42.1 kWh LFP battery and has a range of roughly 270 miles.
The primary RHD Firefly models will go to Singapore, but Nio has now officially said: “This marks a serious step forward in Firefly’s global expansion, paving the way in which for entry into more international markets.
“There are plans to expand further into 17 countries across Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia.”
As one among the biggest RHD markets on the earth, the UK stands out as the subsequent potential destination to launch sales.
The Chinese EV brand had previously been trying to launch within the UK with a direct sales model very similar to Tesla, but paused its plans after changing its strategy for Europe.
Nio had arrange a UK national sales company (NSC) office in Milton Keynes in 2023 led by Matt Galvin, who departed to guide Polestar within the UK in June 2024.
Very similar to other latest Chinese brands, Nio can be offering its dealer partners a portfolio of brands, including small EV cars through Firefly, in addition to a number of all-electric SUVs and saloons through the Nio brand.
Nio has said it’s now partnering with local distributor groups across Europe to set the muse for future expansion. It has already partnered with Hedin Mobility in Europe, which could hint a possible partnership with its Hedin Automotive UK division too, although nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
Thijs Meijling, head of Nio Europe Business, said: “Europe is a core pillar of our global strategy and a region where we see tremendous potential for smart, user-centric mobility.
“Our expansion follows a transparent principle: we give attention to markets where our integrated service and product landscape can unfold its full potential and deliver tangible value to users.
“With a scalable business model driven by digital innovation and a multi-brand portfolio that addresses each premium and concrete segments, we’re setting latest standards for what smart mobility in Europe may be – intelligent, flexible, and built around users’ needs.”
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
