After its first major operating system update in August, Nio Group’s sub-brand Firefly began rolling out the Aster 1.2.0 update over-the-air (OTA) on Thursday.
The update adds more smart driving assistance features as well as new infotainment options, including new functions “across the Digital Cockpit, Assisted Driving, System functions, and the AI companion Lumo,” the brand stated.
Firefly is enhancing assisted driving safety by introducing Rear Collision Warning, which alerts drivers to potential hazards.
The vehicle can now automatically activate functions like Adaptive Cruise Control and Pilot Assist in poor weather conditions.
The brand also fixed the driver monitoring system to “reduce false alarms caused by factors like seating position or driver height.”
According to Firefly, the cockpit experience is now more personalized, with the trip summary including additional insights, such as average energy consumption and speed.
The ‘Quick Control Panel’ function now includes more features, such as locking all doors and activating comfort scenarios (heating or cooling).
The updated account memory now ties individual driving preferences, such as regenerative braking or one-pedal mode, to each user profile.
Additionally, wireless Apple CarPlay makes it easy to access calls, music, and apps while on the go.
The navigation system now provides distance-to-destination and estimated time of arrival information on both the central display and the instrument cluster.
For multi-stop journeys, it offers expandable waypoint views, presenting detailed information for each segment of the trip, including the remaining driving range required to reach each stop.
Last month, the Aster 1.1.0 introduced features such as a built-in dashcam functionality, a blind-spot camera view during turns and customizable wake words for its on-board smart AI-Assistant named ‘Lumo.’
‘Lumo,’ which can be activated with a simple “Hey Lumo,” will now have its interactions and voice commands displayed at the main screen, featuring optimized wake-up settings, improved voice control and emoji interactions.
Firefly‘s first software update — the Aster 1.0.5 — in June focused on enhancing the system’s overall stability.
It improved user experience in Smart Cockpit— fixing bugs, like black screen issues or data display errors — and Intelligent Driving Assistance — strengthening safety features and simulation display.
The brand’s operative system was unveiled in early April, ahead of the beginning of deliveries in China, four months after Nio introduced the brand.
Customers currently purchase the vehicle with the battery included, priced from 119,800 yuan ($16,700).
A version with Nio‘s battery as a service (Baas) was launched in late June, ahead of schedule by over a month, as the company planned to introduce the plan in August.
When purchasing the vehicle with the BaaS, prices start at 79,800 yuan — equivalent to $11,100.
The brand reached 10,000 cumulative deliveries in July — in just 97 days.
Firefly sales hit a new record in August, with registrations across its domestic market and the first vehicles registered across Europe — where it just recently started delivering its model — first in Norway and the Netherlands.
Its debut model prices start at NOK 279,900 ($27,300) in the Norwegian market, while in the Dutch market the vehicle is priced from €29,900 ($34,600).
Firefly is entering several European markets along the main Nio brand, through local dealerships.
The Group has said earlier this month that it expects its production capacity of the Firefly model to peak at 6,000 units per month in the final quarter of the year.
Earlier this month, the brand’s debut model was ranked five starts in both the Euro NCAP and China’s NCAP safety tests, outperforming its direct rivals, the Renault 5 EV and the BYD Dolphin Surf.
