Firefly is in negotiations with local distributors in Brazil and Spain, marking the company’s first disclosure of plans for those markets as it accelerates global expansion beyond its initial European foothold.
“We are now conducting negotiations with our Brazilian partners and Spanish partners,” Firefly brand chief Daniel Jin said during a media roundtable at the Guangzhou International Auto Show, where EV was present.
“We are very confident, as long as there’s a chance, we’re going to enter those markets,” Jin said.
Firefly‘s chief did not provide a timeline for entry into either country but said the brand has no limits on the number of markets it plans to enter.
“Actually we have no limits in terms of the global markets that we’re planning to enter, as long as we can find good partners there,” he said.
The expansion talks come as Nio founder and CEO William Li said earlier Thursday that Firefly is “accelerating presence in 17 markets worldwide.”
The company in August announced plans to enter Costa Rica, Singapore and Uzbekistan, with Costa Rica representing Nio‘s first market in the Americas through a partnership with Horizontes Cielo Azul Movilidad, the country’s largest electric vehicle distributor.
Asked about further expansion to other Spanish-speaking countries and markets across the Americas, Jin said Firefly‘s priority is securing quality local partners in each market rather than rapid geographic expansion.
William Li said Friday it reached 30,000 vehicle deliveries, having delivered 26,242 units through October, primarily in China, with remaining volumes going to European markets including Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Nio‘s portfolio strategy varies by market.
Singapore will initially receive only Firefly models, while Costa Rica will sell vehicles from all three of Nio‘s brands — the premium Nio line, the family-oriented Onvo, and budget Firefly.
BYD established a manufacturing plant there in June to serve South American markets.
The first locally-produced vehicle was the Dolphin Surf (known as the Seagull in China), an urban-focused electric model targeting a slightly lower price segment than Firefly’s.
Firefly also showcased a rally-inspired concept vehicle at the auto show, though company staff at the booth said the vehicle is not available for sale.
International sales are expected to gain share of Firefly’s total deliveries as the brand enters additional markets in coming months.
