Nio‘s co-founder and President Lihong Qin has said on Thursday that the Shanghai-based EV maker is coming to Australia and New Zealand in the “near future,” a couple of months after a Firefly model was reportedly spotted in Victoria.
In an interview with automotive blogger Arthur Shen, amid the pre-launch event of the updated Nio ES8 SUV, Lihong said that the Nio Group has been “paying close attention” and admitted they have been discussing with “strong dealer partners” in both countries.
“I believe that in the near future Nio vehicles will arrive in Australia and New Zealand,” the company’s President said, while asking potential customers to “please also take some time to learn more about us.”
“If you are not in a hurry to change your car, perhaps you could wait a little for Nio, Onvo and Firefly,” he concluded.
In mid-June, a vehicle from Nio‘s sub-brand Firefly was spotted in Victoria, Australia. The uncovered hatchback was seen parked about 24 kilometres from central Melbourne, the countryโs second-largest city.
Last year, the company filed a trademark application in the island for its three brands โ Nio, Onvo and Firefly.
According to a local media Lanjinger in late June, Nio is planning to expand to its first right-hand drive market โ Hong Kong โ in the fourth quarter. Australia could be next, opening the doors for others like the UK.
Unlike Onvo, the second sub-brand from the Nio Group, which has been focused on its domestic market, Firefly‘s rollout plan includes 16 countries by the year-end.
In an interview with Arthur Shen, Nio‘s founder and CEO William Li said that “Firefly sells very well in China. We recently started deliveries in Europe. I believe in Europe, it will surely be recognized in Europe.”
Li added that “for a very long car like the brand new ES8, at 5,280 mm, the user experience might be less ideal. Wheres in China, users do prefer big cars.”
Firefly was recently introduced in Europe, four months after the brand debuted in China. European deliveries started last week, in the Netherlands and Norway.
In addition to these two European markets, Firefly is set to launch in Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece, Portugal, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania โ all new territories for Nio alongside its premium brand.
Read Lihong’s full statement below:
“Hello, friends in Australia and New Zealand.
We are also quite familiar with the markets in Australia and New Zealand and have been paying close attention.
We have also been in close discussion with strong dealer partners in both countries.
I believe that in the near future Nio vehicles will arrive in Australia and New Zealand.
Please also take some time to learn more about us.
If you are not in a hurry to change your car, perhaps you could wait a little for Nio, Onvo and Firefly.”
