Chinese EV maker Nio said on Tuesday that it will officially launch in Thailand with its cheaper sub-brand Firefly on March 5.
The plans to launch in Thailand in the month of March were first announced in January by the company’s head of global business Chris Chen.
The EV maker began mass producing right-hand drive vehicles in November in preparation to enter Singapore, Macau, Britain, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.
Nio aims to expand its Firefly brand across right-hand drive markets that have no tariffs on imported EVs.
Global Sales
Firefly has delivered more than 40,000 vehicles globally since its launch, a milestone reached on January 10.
The brand delivered a record 7,084 units in December before dropping to 2,807 in January and 2,657 in February — its second-worst result since its first full month of deliveries in May 2025.
The Chinese New Year holiday weighed on both production and sales, with this year’s nine-day break the longest on record according to the China Passenger Car Association, reducing February to just 16 working days.
The brand is now present in nine countries, and Nio is planning to expand it to more than 40 markets worldwide.
Thailand will be Firefly‘s second market in Southeast Asia after Singapore, where the brand opened pre-sales in January.
In early January, Chen disclosed the timeline in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the same day the company officially entered Singapore — its first market in Southeast Asia.
Singapore Launch
Nio unveiled the Firefly at Singapore Motorshow 2026 in January and opened pre-sales for the compact EV.
Wearnes Automotive, Nio’s local distribution partner, operates dealerships for several premium and luxury brands at the location including Lotus, Volvo, Land Rover, Bentley, Ducati, Polestar, and Aston Martin.
The showroom is planned to feature vehicles from both Nio and Firefly brands after the initial focus on the cheaper marque.
Right-Hand Drive Expansion
Nio began mass producing right-hand drive vehicles in November in preparation to enter Singapore, Macau, Britain, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.
“Right-hand drive is a sizeable market, and we will be ready to build cars for the market,” Nio co-founder and President Lihong Qin said at a media briefing last year. “We will continue to go global with our Firefly and Onvo brands.”
The right-hand drive configuration of Firefly’s debut model was first spotted in early October at the company’s UK engineering facilities. The brand began taking orders in Macau late last year, making it the first market to open orders for the RHD version.
Tariff Avoidance Strategy
Firefly’s focus on markets without EV tariffs reflects lessons learned from the company’s European expansion.
The European Commission imposed additional duties on Chinese-made fully electric vehicles in late 2024, forcing Firefly to raise its planned pricing in the region.
Firefly Chief Daniel Jin told Reuters late last year that the company was in talks with local distributors in the UK and Thailand as it pursues markets with more favorable trade conditions.
ES9 Flagship
Nio’s founder and CEO William Li announced on Tuesday that the company’s new flagship SUV, the ES9, will be unveiled on April 9 — a day ahead of its initial schedule.
“Upcoming updates for 2026 ET5, ET5T, ES6, EC6, and special editions will also be released,” the executive wrote in a post on the Nio app a few hours after the livestream.
The models will receive a 2026 model year update as the company aims to increase demand amid disappointing sales of its current lineup. A more comprehensive refresh based on Nio’s third-generation platform is planned for 2027.
During the same livestream, Li outlined Nio Group’s plans for the first half of 2026, including three new Onvo models — led by the L80, a five-seat SUV scheduled for mid-May.
