Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Electric vehicle maker Nio has seen on Monday two of its executives leaving the company to its direct competitor Polestar. The heads of Nio’s German and UK markets announced that they are joining the Geely-owned electric brand.
Following the departures, Nio announced the promotion of David Sultzer — who joined Nio in September 2023 —from Regional Manager to Country Manager.
Additionally, the company appointed Christian Wiegand as Deputy General Manager, alongside his existing role leading Marketing & Communications operations in the German market.
Previously to Nio, Sultzer served at Head of Field Sales Germany at Hyundai’s premium brand Genesis in Germany. There, he was responsible for the planning and development of the Genesis Sales Field Service organization in the country, according to his LinkedIn.
After eight months leading Germany’s sales and operations, Marius Hayler has announced earlier today on LinkedIn that is joining Geely’s brand Polestar as a Director for the Nordic countries and managing director of the Norwegian market.
Nio entered the German market in October 2022 and registered only 35 vehicles last month, representing a decrease of 20.5 percent from the previous year. Year-to-date sales for Nio in the country reached 190 vehicles, 7.3 percent lower than registrations recorded between January and May 2023.
Hayler was Nio’s first country manager hired in Europe. He joined Nio in March 2021, after serving as Country Director at Jaguar Land Rover Norway.
At Nio, he led the preparations for the company’s entry into the Nordic market before transitioning in October last year to the German market after the departure of the German lead Ralph Kranz.
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In April, Nio had registered 53 vehicles marking the second consecutive month of growth after selling 27 units in February and 48 in March.
On LinkedIn, Hayler mentioned on Monday his time at Nio as “several fantastic years” before saying that he decided “to move back to the place where the heart and head belongs, the Nordics, Norway and Oslo”.
Earlier today, the former managing director for Nio in the UK Matt Galvin, announced that took the role at Polestar of Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Galvin initially joined Nio in September 2022, where he was responsible in establishing and launching the brand’s UK operations, according to his LinkedIn.
Nio launched last week its flagship SUV EL8 in the five European countries opening pre-orders while deliveries are expected to start in September.
Initially launched in China in late 2022, the EL8 has been refreshed with the new Executive variant priced in Germany at €108,900 with battery included and at €87,900 with the Battery as a Service system.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
