Nio Launches Three Electric Cars in Europe

The Chinese manufacturer Nio is expanding its presence in Europe with 4 new countries, including Germany, featuring high prices but interchangeable batteries.

It first established itself in Norway, the electric vehicle capital, where it now accounts for over 75% of new car sales. The Chinese startup Nio launched its large SUV ES8 in 2020 in an attempt to gain market share in the European gold rush.

Three Very High-End Models

Now, its range is expanding to cover four new countries. Nio made it an event, a presentation evening in Berlin, to announce the selected markets: Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

In these three markets, it is not the Nio ES8 that arrives, but three other models. The most accessible is the family sedan ET5, which we have already discussed. The second is the SUV EL7, which changed its name at the last minute to avoid an Audi lawsuit (originally named ES7, probably too close to the S7). It’s 4.91 meters long, with up to 513 km of range, and a high-end interior. It features V2L-capable batteries (able to charge electrical devices). The third vehicle is the Nio ET7, a large 5.10-meter electric sedan rivaling the Tesla Model S.

For now, Nio relies on leasing rather than purchasing. Prices remain elitist, starting at €1,000/month. The ET7 is available quickly, but delivery times for the other models range from 6 to 8 months! A small bonus is that the cars access Nio’s interchangeable battery network, via 20 stations, with 120 planned by the end of 2023. By 2025, the brand aims to reach “1,000 stations outside China, most of which will be in Europe.”

Nio Soon in France?

Nio has not announced plans to enter France yet. But it seems only a matter of time. Like other Chinese brands such as BYD, the manufacturer is expected to enter with its electric cars. Why the delay compared to other countries? Because the initial markets have a higher percentage of electric vehicle sales. In Sweden, more than one in three cars sold in September was electric; in Germany, it was 20%, and in Denmark, 18%. In France, it was nearly 16%. Patience is therefore required.

Read also: Could the next Car of the Year be Chinese?