Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
As reported earlier this month, electric vehicle maker Nio is preparing to introduce refreshed versions of four of its models over the coming months.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its latest catalog on Wednesday, revealing that the facelifts include minor design changes in the exterior.
The brand’s entry-level model, the ET5 sedan — alongside its Touring version ET5T — will be updated. The smallest SUV ES6 (known as EL6 in Europe) and the coupe SUV EC6 will also roll out new versions later this year.
Nio founder and CEO William Li said earlier this month that the company plans to launch new or updated models every quarter of 2025, beginning in the second quarter.
The regulatory filings show a more squared-off headlight contour, sharper bumper transitions, and an enlarged front grille, in line with the recently launched luxurious sedan ET9.
A new “Champion Edition” badge appears on the rear of several models, including the ES6, ET5, ET5 Touring, and EC6, suggesting Nio may introduce a special edition across its lineup, similar to the ET9 luxury sedan unveiled in December.
Commenting on the interior changes, Li revealed that the new versions will feature a horizontal center screen similar as also seen in the Nio ET9.
Brake calipers will now be available in fluorescent green alongside the existing orange option. Customers can also choose matte black finishes for the vehicle’s logo, window trim, and wheel hub logos. The ET5T remains compatible with an optional luggage rack, and all four models can be equipped with a retractable electric tow hook.
The Nio brand will release facelifts on four of its premium models, while the cheaper sub-brand Onvo will launch two new SUVs. The recently unveiled third brand, Firefly, will start deliveries of its debut model in late April.
The new models will also incorporate Nio’s in-house Shenji autonomous driving chip and run on the company’s SkyOS vehicle-wide operating system. Li said software updates, including an end-to-end city driving system powered by a world model, will begin rolling out in March.
The Shenji NX9031 chip is manufactured using a 5 nm process and contains over 50 billion transistors, according to the carmaker.
In 2025, the Shanghai-based group aims to double sales to about 440,000 units. After delivering 13,683 EVs in January, Nio needs to deliver 426,300 vehicles across its three brands over the next eleven months, an average of about 38,750 units.
