The Chinese Nio Renault 5 is chilling

While it is understood that the success of the new Renault 5 electric relies on its heritage, Nio’s new creation remains unsettling.

Spy photos of Nio’s third brand, Firefly, recently surfaced in China. The photos published today reveal the side profile of the 100% electric compact car and strangely remind us of a small French car…

The car is expected to be officially unveiled for the first time at Nio Day in Guangzhou on December 21. We will then see if Chinese espionage has been in full swing, as it would be surprising if Nio developed a car so closely resembling the Renault 5 in just a few weeks. Moreover, Renault could have kept its car secret rather than teasing it for almost 12 months, revealing everything there was to know about its model!

Earlier this month, photos of the Firefly’s interior were leaked. The dashboard features a minimalist style, with a steering wheel with slight flat sections and a fully digital floating dashboard, naturally paired with a central screen. Just as you might expect again.

The only real difference with the French car will be at the very bottom of the order form, as the starting price of the Nio is estimated to be in the range of 14,000 to 20,000 euros, which is twice less than the Renault 5, even at the high end. Fortunately, the French model is protected by European customs duties, as the axe has not fallen very far.

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