NIO executives shared particulars of the Chinese language automaker’s third EV model, Firefly, in addition to what the brand new marque will name its first mannequin. The information comes about one month earlier than Firefly formally launches in China throughout its mother or father firm’s tenth annual NIO Day occasion.
Firefly is a brand new inexpensive boutique EV model spun out by Chinese language automaker NIO. We’ve been awaiting the marque’s official launch for years after NIO divulged plans for 2 new all-electric sub-brands within the works. The primary was codenamed “Alps” and was scheduled to launch in mid-2024 in China and Europe.
Alps would formally develop into generally known as Onvo, which just lately hit the market this yr, starting with its L60 SUV as a viable competitor to the Tesla Mannequin Y.
Along with “Alps” or Onvo information, there have been rumblings a couple of third NIO EV sub-brand, codenamed “Himalaya” but in addition known as “Firefly.” In December 2023, NIO’s president confirmed the much more inexpensive EV sub-brand would be part of Onvo in China in 2024, adopted by entry into European markets in 2025.
Even with tariffs being imposed on Chinese language-built EVs coming into the EU, NIO conveyed confidence in its new Firefly marque because the automaker’s co-founder and president Qin Lihong shared that the brand new fashions can be priced between RMB 100,000 ($13,800) and RMB 200,000 ($27,500).
Up till now, we’ve solely seen camouflaged pictures of what a Firefly BEV would possibly seem like as we await the anticipated launch, which we realized is approaching December 21, 2024, in the course of the automaker’s tenth annual NIO Day occasion.
At the moment, nevertheless, we’ve realized the title of the primary Firefly mannequin and when NIO expects to start delivering it to clients.
NIO’s first Firefly EV mannequin will undertake the identical title
Following the posting of NIO’s Q3 2024 monetary outcomes, the automaker’s executives accomplished an earnings name, which supplied some new particulars in regards to the Firefly EV model. The corporate confirmed that NIO’s third EV model will undertake the Firefly codename used internally previously years.
Moreover, NIO confirmed the primary EV mannequin below the brand new model can be known as the Firefly as nicely, describing the brand new marque as an emblem of NIO’s innovation and class, however in a smaller bundle.
NIO additionally stated its Firefly EVs will exceed buyer expectations in design, security, house, intelligence, and power effectivity. Moreover, NIO executives shared plans for a brand new product cycle that can embody deliveries below each its Onvo and Firefly manufacturers, enabling sooner world progress.
Per NIO, the Firefly EV from Firefly will start deliveries in China within the first half of 2025, with future expansions to different markets to comply with. We’ll get our first take a look at the brand new mannequin and (hopefully) be taught what it should value throughout NIO’s tenth annual NIO Day occasion on December 21. The corporate is already teasing the occasion, which normally consists of new product debuts and different thrilling developments. Per the NIO Weibo web page:
At the moment, the prelude to NIO’s tenth anniversary and NIO Day 2024 has formally begun. With the theme of ‘Collectively & Additional,’ we are going to proceed to share with you the ten-year story of NIO and its customers. At this yr’s NIO Day, NIO’s third model ‘FIREFLY Firefly’ may even be formally launched, and can proceed to undertake the ‘rechargeable, replaceable and upgradeable’ pure electrical know-how route.
That final half could possibly be learn as reassurance that NIO’s new EV sub-brand will proceed to deal with BEVs solely, regardless of earlier stories that the Chinese language automaker is engaged on an extended-range hybrid. NIO has publicly denied these stories. All eyes can be on NIO Day 2024 subsequent month. Verify again in with Electrek for a full recap.
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