Written by Cláudio Afonso | info@claudio-afonso.com | LinkedIn | Twitter
After entering its first European market in September 2021, electric car manufacturer NIO will expand its presence to 4 more markets before the year is out: the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.
Meanwhile, the company is already preparing for the second phase of its European expansion into seven new countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland. During the last NIO day — held in December 2021 — the EV maker confirmed its plan to expand its services to 25 markets by 2025.
As shown during this article, NIO has been starting by hiring Head of Power and Head of Business in the countries it will expand next simultaneously with the NIO vehicles with NAD (NIO Autonomous Driving) capabilities.
Spain
Over the past few months, NIO cars with NAD capabilities have been seen in several countries as part of the company’s expansion process into these markets. Starting with Spain, several enthusiasts shared on social media many photos of the NIO ES8 model in Valencia in mid-April.
Italy
In addition to Spain, also Italian enthusiasts have seen these vehicles in different cities during the last months: the city of Trento in April, at the Florence Airport in early June, and also in Milan in May.
“NIO has built up the full-stack NAD capability with perception algorithms, localization, control strategy, and platform software developed in-house. NAD will gradually cover use cases of expressways, urban areas, parking, and battery swap to enable a safer and more relaxing autonomous driving experience from point A to point B,” the EV maker says.
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France
When it comes to France, NIO posted its first job vacancy located in France in mid-may looking for a Power Network Development Lead to “start its power business operations in the country”. Among the main tasks, it will be also responsible for “location acquisition and assessment of Power Swap & Charging network solutions in the local areas” confirming the entrance to the French market.
In mid-March, a NIO ES8 model with NAD technology was spotted on a highway in France. Two months later, the EV maker posted its first job vacancy located in France, “For starting our power business operations in France, we are looking for a NIO Power Network Development Lead,” NIO said in the description.
Among the main tasks, the company said the candidate will be also responsible for “location acquisition and assessment of Power Swap & Charging network solutions in the local areas”.
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Austria
In early May, NIO posted the first job vacancy located in Austria looking for a Head of New Business Development that will “identify business opportunities and develop a robust business plan for the market entry. Two months later, the company started to looking for a Head of Power in the country to lead the energy team on the plans for the charging network.
Hungary
In late January, the EV maker posted the first job position for Hungary looking for an EU SSC Finance team leader. As of today, NIO is looking to hire for 31 different positions related to the plant that will build the battery swap stations for the European markets.
The manufacturer is looking for a Manufactural Process Engineer, a Manufactural Process Engineer, a Production Supervisor, a Factory Admin, a Manufacturing Process Supervisor, and many others.
On May 30, the company started looking for an Assistant Plant Controller for its factory in the country that will be responsible to “implement and ensure business internal control compliance in accordance with Sarbanes Oxley requirements”. In mid-April, NIO had already posted a job vacancy looking for a Plant Manager in Europe.
“The EU SSC Finance team leader will be responsible for leading and managing the operations of the financial team in NIO’s shared services center in Budapest to facilitate the fast-growing business in the European markets,” the company said.
Belgium
On July 9, the EV maker posted the first two job vacancies for Belgium looking for a Head of Power for “leading the energy team in the implementation of the NIO Power energy business” and a Head of Business.
Based on a comprehensive market scan and analysis, the Head of Business will “identify the business opportunities for NIO, and develop a robust business plan for NIO’s market entry,” the company explained.
In the first days of July, a NIO model was seen for the first time in the country amid the expansion to the country in 2023. According to the picture shared on social media, the vehicle was in Antwerp, one of the main cities in the country.
Switzerland
As done with the previous countries, NIO also opened a job vacancy for a Head of Power but this time for Switzerland. The vacancy posted three weeks ago says the candidate will be responsible for “leading energy team to implement the NIO Power energy business in Europe”.
That includes power swap (selection, construction, operation), charging (home charger installation, site selection, construction, operation, sales), Battery operations (security, logistics, upgrades), and other energy-related user services and business development.
Earlier today, NIO finished the construction of its second Battery Swap Station in Norway and the opening is scheduled for this Summer, which means, before the third week of September. The exact location of the new NIO House is still unknown.
On Monday, the EV maker said it has decided to “form an independent committee, consisting of independent directors to oversee an independent investigation regarding the allegations made in the Short Seller Report”. NIO added that will provide updates on the Independent Investigation in due course consistent with the requirements of applicable rules and regulations of the three Exchanges.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | info@claudio-afonso.com | LinkedIn | Twitter