Chinese EV maker Nio said on Monday it will expand to Singapore, Uzbekistan and Costa Rica before the end of next year. Except for Singapore, the new markets will have available the three brands of the group: Nio, Onvo and Firefly.
After entering its first five markets outside China with a direct sales business model, the company announced earlier this year that it is adopting a traditional dealership model for new markets, allowing a faster expansion and much lower costs.
The Shanghai-based EV maker said on Monday it will work with established distributors in each country to introduce models from its three brands — Nio, its family-oriented sub-brand Onvo, and entry-level marque Firefly.
The three new markets join the growing list of new countries Nio has been announcing over the last few months.
In early June, the company founded and led by William Li said it would expand to Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, and Romania before the end of 2026 with both Nio and Firefly brands.
Two weeks later, Nio announced Portugal, Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria while re-lauching in the Danish market with the distribution business model.
In Singapore, Nio will partner with Wearnes Automotive. The two companies will launch Nio’s first right-hand-drive vehicle, a Firefly model, next year.
In Uzbekistan, the EV maker will work with Abu Sahiy Motors. The partnership, Nio’s first in Central Asia, will bring the EL8, EL6, ET5, ET5 Touring and Onvo L60 to the market.
In the Costa Rican market, Nio plans to launch the Nio EL8 (ES8 in China), EL6, ET5 Touring, the Onvo L60, and the Firefly model.
Earlier this month, the company has opened a pop-up store at the Golden Hall shopping mall in Athens, marking the brand’s first physical presence in Greece ahead of its official market debut later this year.
The store opening comes after Nio announced in mid-June that it had signed a distribution agreement with Greek firm Motodynamics Group to handle sales, distribution, and after-sales service of the Nio and Firefly brands in Greece, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.
The official launch in Greece is expected in the final quarter of the year.
Cyprus and Bulgaria will follow early next year in collaboration with firm PM Tseriotis Ltd.
The initial model portfolio for the region includes the EL6 (sold as ES6 in China), the larger six-seat EL8 SUV, the ET5 sedan, and its station wagon variant, the ET5 Touring.
The compact EV hatchback from the newly launched Firefly sub-brand will also be offered.
