Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has officially unveiled its Firefly brand, aiming to challenge the BMW Mini and Mercedes-Benz Smart in the global market. The announcement was made at Nio Day 2024, held in Guangzhou, marking the debut of Firefly as Nio’s third brand, following its flagship Nio and Onvo sub-brands.
The Firefly’s first model, sharing its name with the brand, was introduced as a premium boutique small car. Pre-sales for the battery electric vehicle (BEV) began today in China, priced at RMB 148,800 ($20,390), with an official launch slated for April 2025. This pricing matches the recently discounted starting price of the all-electric Mini Cooper in China, which dropped from RMB 209,800 to boost sales.
Like other Nio models, the Firefly supports battery swapping and is expected to offer a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) rental program, reducing upfront purchase costs. William Li, Nio’s founder, chairman, and CEO, described the Firefly as “smaller than a Smart and smarter than a Mini.”
Initially planned for a European launch, the Firefly model is now set to debut in Europe a quarter after its Chinese release, according to Daniel Jin, president of the Nio sub-brand. While the European Union’s new import tariffs on Chinese BEVs—adding 20.7% for Nio vehicles—pose challenges, Jin remains confident in Firefly’s competitiveness.
Designed by Kris Tomasson, Nio’s senior vice president of design, the Firefly embodies the philosophy of being “Vivid, Thoughtful, and Solid.” The car boasts advanced safety features, adhering to the latest Chinese and European crash test standards for 5-star ratings. Its body structure, made from 83.4% high-strength steel and aluminum alloys, offers torsional stiffness of 35,700 Nm/deg, the strongest in its class.
Standard safety features include nine airbags, a rarity in this segment. The Firefly also features the smallest turning radius in its class at 4.7 meters.
Chinese customers can now pre-order the Firefly by paying a RMB 199 deposit, receiving a RMB 2,000 discount upon purchase. Current Nio and Onvo owners are eligible for bonus credit points worth RMB 3,000, while ES8 Founding Edition owners receive points valued at RMB 5,000.
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