The first batch of Onvo vehicles for overseas markets arrived in Uzbekistan on Wednesday, making it the first international market where the family-focused sub-brand will be available.
According to the well known automotive blogger ‘德卤爱开车,’ “the first stop for the Onvo brand’s overseas expansion is Central Asia.”
The blogger added that “the first batch of L60 vehicles has arrived in Uzbekistan.”
The news came about two weeks after its competitor Li Auto announced that it had expanded to both Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the company’s first locations overseas.
Business Model in Uzbekistan
Nio Group‘s expansion to its first Central Asian market has been announced in August.
By then, the company revealed that the three brands of the group — the premium Nio, Onvo and the most recent Firefly — would be launched in the Uzbek market.
The EV maker is partnering with Abu Sahiy Motors as its exclusive distributor, one of the largest business groups in the country.
It is known for its extensive logistics and trading network. It also has retail operations, real estate activities, and a growing role in automotive sales, distribution, and after-sales services.
The companies will also be introducing the Nio ET5 and ET5 Touring sedans, the more affordable in the brand’s lineup, and the ES8 and ES6 SUVs (renamed EL8 and EL6 in international markets).
Despite mentions that Firefly will enter the market, neither Nio nor the distributor has provided any details about when its first model will launch in Uzbekistan.
Expansion in Europe
Nio recently began expanding sales of its Firefly model in Europe, through Norway and the Netherlands.
Speaking with customers at the first European showroom, in Oslo, founder and CEO William Li revealed on Wednesday that the company plans to introduce its Onvo brand to European markets starting in 2027.
During the company’s founders’ European visit this week, CEO William Li also confirmed that the company will continue entering new markets in the coming year.
When asked about bringing models currently exclusive to China to global markets, Li said the company’s mid-term product strategy is still being discussed.
Business Model Switch
Nio, which entered its first overseas markets using a direct-to-consumer model, is now shifting to a dealership-based strategy in newer regions as it looks to boost demand.
Earlier this year, the company announced plans to expand into Belgium, Austria, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal through local partnerships before the end of the year.
Nio is also expected to enter several additional countries next year, including Costa Rica, Singapore, Romania, Czechia, Poland, and Luxembourg.
Last month, EV exclusively reported that the Group would also be entering Armenia, which was confirmed by the brand a few days later.
