Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
On the same day it began mass production of its first model, the L60, Nio’s sub-brand Onvo unveiled interior images of the SUV, initially showcased in May.
Despite being positioned at a lower price point than Nio’s mainline models, the Onvo L60 offers some common features, including ambient lighting, a rear infotainment screen, and foldable front seats.
Contrary to Nio, the main screen switches from vertical mode to horizontal one, as seen across the Tesla models. The L60’s interior also includes a USB-C port in the second row, located beneath the infotainment screen.
Attendees at the launch event in Hefei, China, shared images revealing that the model comes equipped with a trunk refrigerator, though it remains unclear if this feature will be a standard inclusion or an optional add-on.
The L60’s standard range variant is powered by a 60.6 kWh battery, with an 85 kWh battery pack that “should be available soon,” as Onvo’s Head of User Experience stated in a video released earlier today on Chinese social media.
The final official price remains unknown as customers and shareholders speculate about the cost of the version with Battery as a Service (BAAS), which offers a lower initial buying price.
The first units are expected to be delivered on the last days of September, one week after the launch event.
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Onvo’s President, Alan Ai, said in late May that the brand is developing six-seat and seven-seat models aimed at larger families.
The journey from Nio’s first sub-brand began on March 17, 2021, with the launch of its ALPS business, the codename for the sub-brand project. The development of the L60, internally known as the DOM project, kicked off on October 8, 2021. A year later, Nio confirmed that Onvo would follow the direct sales model, similar to its parent brand.
The L60 design was finalized on April 13, 2023, with the Blanc project starting shortly after on May 10, 2023. The vehicle’s prototype, the L60 VB, rolled off the production line on October 26, 2023, and the first sales store contract was signed on November 5, 2023.
The Onvo brand officially launched earlier this year on May 15, and the first mass-produced L60 was completed today, August 15.
The pre-sale price of the L60 stands at 219,900 RMB, equivalent to $30,621 with the battery included.
The standard-range variant of the Onvo L60 will feature a 60.6 kWh battery pack with a CLTC range of 501 to 555 kilometers, as per a catalog released in early July by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
In mid-June, a regulatory filing revealed the Onvo L60’s core specifications, showing that the model will use lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by BYD’s battery firm, FinDreams Battery.
By the end of 2024, Nio expects to have over 350 service centers in 200 cities nationwide capable of maintaining Onvo vehicles. The company also plans to open dedicated Onvo service centers based on user demand.
The pricing for the battery as a service (BaaS) version will be only announced at the event in late September.
William Li, CEO of the Nio Group, has recently anticipated direct competition between Onvo and Li Auto, a Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker which is preparing to launch its second fully electric model in the first half of 2025.
“Both Onvo and Beijing-based Li Auto target the personal use auto market and their prices overlap. I believe there will definitely be competition between the pair,” the chief executive said.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
