Nio registered five vehicles in Germany in February, bringing the EV maker’s total for the first two months of the year to six units in Europe’s largest automotive market.
The February figure represents an 80% decline from the same month a year ago, according to data published Thursday by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA).
The results come as the company undergoes a sweeping transformation of its European operations.
As exclusively reported by EV earlier on Thursday, Nio quietly dismantled its European management structure in February, splitting the region into six separate departments and shifting its sales operations toward a dealer and distributor model, according to an internal email seen by EV.
In a separate exclusive published by EV on Wednesday, the company fired its head of German operations, David Sultzer, as part of the restructuring program.
As of Thursday morning, the EU-EVs data platform had not yet reported the model breakdown of February sales.
Competitors Accelerating
Nio‘s trajectory stands in sharp contrast to other Chinese and non-traditional EV brands operating in Germany, which are growing rapidly in the same market.
BYD registered 3,053 hybrid and fully electric vehicles in February, up 1,550.3% from a year ago, according to KBA data.
The Shenzhen-based automaker’s year-to-date total reached 5,682 units, representing growth of 1,252.9% over the first two months of 2025.
Leapmotor, which entered Germany through its partnership with Stellantis, registered 1,091 vehicles in February — a 486.6% year-over-year surge.
Its year-to-date total of 1,780 units represents growth of 422.0%.
XPeng registered 331 vehicles in February, up 104% from a year ago, bringing its two-month total to 658 units.
Tesla registered 2,276 vehicles in February, up 59% year over year.
Polestar registered 296 vehicles in February, a 44% month-over-month decline from January’s 532, though its year-to-date figure of 828 remains 12% above the prior year.
Lucid, another premium EV brand struggling in the market, registered seven vehicles — down 22.2% from a year ago and a 36% decline from January.
Stale Inventory
Every vehicle Nio currently offers in Germany — and across Europe — is a 2023 or 2024 model year.
Updated versions of the ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6 and EC6 were launched in China in May 2025 but have not reached European showrooms.
The brand operates four flagship Nio Houses in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Hamburg.
To increase demand, Nio has turned to 0% financing on short-term registered vehicles, valid until March 31, and a six-month “Try & Buy” trial for the ET7 sedan requiring a one-time payment of €4,500, with the full amount credited toward the purchase price.
The internal restructuring email, dated February 12, revealed that the company will now pursue sales through general distributors or dealerships across Europe excluding Norway — a formal departure from the direct-sales model that defined Nio’s European entry.
A newly created Europe Sales & Network Development division has been transferred to the company’s Global Business department in China.
Financial Backdrop
Nio Deutschland GmbH’s 2023 annual report, first reported by Manager Magazin, showed a net loss of more than €58 million on gross revenue of approximately €9.4 million.
Negative equity ballooned from roughly €22.3 million to nearly €80.4 million within a single year.
Financial data from 2024 and 2025 has not yet been released by the company’s German unit.
Nio faces a 20.7% countervailing duty on top of the EU’s standard 10% import tariff, bringing total levies on its vehicles to 30.7%.
