Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has revealed its global expansion strategy for 2025 and 2026, with plans to enter the markets of Uzbekistan, Singapore, and Costa Rica.
Nio, recognized for its innovative battery charging and swapping technology, is set to enter the Singapore market in the first quarter of 2026 through a multi-brand dealership group, Wearnes Automotive. Singapore will mark Nio’s debut in Southeast Asia, with the compact electric hatchback, Firefly, as its first model to hit the market.
The company says the move will expand Nio’s international footprint and meet the rising demand among local consumers for sustainable and premium electric vehicles.
Nio’s plans to enter Uzbekistan and Costa Rica are its first ventures into Central Asia and the Americas. In Uzbekistan, the company will partner with Abu Sahiy Motors as its distributor and will launch its first vehicle later this year. Confirmed models for the market include the Onvo L60, ET5, ET5 Touring, EL6, and EL8, while the Firefly EV will not be part of the initial lineup.
Nio will enter Costa Rica in 2026 through a collaboration with Horizontes Cielo Azul Movilidad, the nation’s leading EV distributor. For the Central American market, the company is preparing a five-model lineup that includes the Firefly EV, Onvo L60, ET5 Touring, EL6, and EL8.
Although Nio offers a wide selection of models in Europe and China, they are exclusively manufactured in left-hand drive, making them unsuitable for markets that require right-hand drive. The Firefly will be the first Nio model manufactured in both left- and right-hand-drive versions. Across Europe, Nio operates 60 battery charging and swapping stations. The swapping process is fully automated, replacing a depleted battery with a charged one without any manual assistance.
Established in 2014, the Chinese automaker was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2018, followed by listings in Singapore and Hong Kong in 2022.
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