Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Chinese electric-vehicle maker Nio will launch its Firefly sub-brand in Germany this fall, Automobilwoche reported, marking the European debut for its most affordable model yet.
The compact EV line, introduced in December, targets younger consumers and aims to compete with models such as BMW’s Mini and Smart, the latter backed by Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese Geely Group.
The official launch for Firefly will take place in Shanghai on April 19, where pricing, delivery timing, and the interior will be unveiled, Firefly chief Daniel Jin said earlier this month.
The Firefly model has been undergoing road tests in Germany and across Europe since mid-2024. It was developed at Nio’s Global Design Studio, located outside Munich and led by Vice President of Design Kris Tomasson.
Global Focus
“When we first set up the project, we didn’t just focus on a single market, but rather set our sights on the global markets,” Jin said. “This is not just a consideration from the perspective of sales potential, but the times have changed.”
He added: “It’s the era of new energy-vehicles (NEVs) and intelligent electrification, which is refreshing every market segment, and it seems that the small car sector has not yet been covered.”
“The team hopes that in the future, when people talk about small cars, Firefly will become a brand that users around the world will definitely talk about,” Jin said.
New Sales Model
Unlike Nio’s main brand, which sells directly to customers, Firefly will work with distribution partners in each country. Jin said pre-orders exceeded expectations, with most orders placed on the night of the model’s December 21 debut. Deliveries in China will begin following the April event, while the timeline for Europe remains unspecified.
As part of its infrastructure strategy, the brand plans to deploy “demonstration operation stations in cities with a higher concentration of users,” Jin said. The move aligns with Nio Group’s broader plans to introduce a new generation of battery swap stations.
Specs and Battery Details
The vehicle will be powered by a rear-wheel-drive motor developed by Nio’s motor subsidiary XPT, delivering 105 kW and a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour. It will use a 42.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery supplied by China’s Sunwoda, offering an estimated 420 kilometers (260 miles) of range under China’s CLTC test cycle.
“The use of high strength steel and aluminium alloys accounts for 83.4% of the body structure – a proportion usually found in higher segment cars, whilst the body’s torsional stiffness of 35,700 Nm per degree remains unmatched in its class,” the company said amid the model unveil
Nio Brand Sales in Germany
Nio registered 25 vehicles in Germany in February, slightly down from 27 units in the same month a year earlier, according to data from the country’s Federal Motor Transport Authority.
The company entered the German market in October 2022. Leadership has since changed hands multiple times, with former Volvo executive Ralph Kranz replaced by Norway chief Marius Hayler in June 2024. Hayler left after eight months to join Polestar and was succeeded by David Sultzer.
Initially a codename, Firefly has now been confirmed as the official name of Nio’s third brand, following the main Nio marque and premium-focused Onvo. The sub-brand is aimed at expanding Nio’s presence in the lower-cost, smaller vehicle segment globally.
