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Chinese EV automaker NIO has been teasing its third marque, codenamed “Firefly,” for quite some time now. Recently, executives at NIO have confirmed when it will officially launch the new ultra-affordable sub-brand and pull the sheet of its flagship model – NIO Day 2024.
Right around the time Chinese EV automaker NIO shared intentions to expand into new markets in Europe, it also divulged plans for two new all-electric sub-brands in the works. The first was codenamed “Alps” and was scheduled to launch in mid-2024 in China and Europe.
Alps would officially become known as Onvo, which recently hit the market, beginning with its L60 SUV. That EV launched at an ultra-affordable starting price of $21,000 as a viable competitor to the Tesla Model Y.
Around the same time as the “Alps” news, there were rumors of a third sub-brand, codenamed “Himalaya” but also called “Firefly.”In December of 2023, NIO’s president confirmed the even more affordable EV sub-brand would join Onvo in China in 2024, followed by entry into markets of Europe in 2025.
Even with tariffs being imposed on Chinese-built EVs entering the EU, NIO conveyed confidence in its new Firefly marque as the automaker’s co-founder and president Qin Lihong shared the new models will be priced between RMB 100,000 ($13,800) and RMB 200,000 ($27,500).
To date, we’ve only seen camouflaged images of what a Firefly BEV might look like as we await the anticipated launch and, presumedly, the official name of the sub-brand. We’ll still have to wait a couple of months, but we now know we will have more answers on December 21, 2024, during the automaker’s annual NIO Day event.
“Firefly” to launch on December 21 and be sold by NIO
According to the Chinese media outlet Xchuxing and several users on Weibo, Qin Lihong confirmed that NIO’s Firefly sub-brand will be launched at the annual NIO Day 2024 event, which will be held in Guangzhou on December 21.
Lihong also shared that Firefly EVs will be displayed and sold in NIO showrooms and share the same services and battery swap technology as its parent brand. According to previous reports, the flagship Firefly model is expected to be sized similarly to a BYD Dolphin.
NIO co-founder and chairman William Li has previously compared Firefly’s relationship to NIO, similar to MINI and BMW, but elaborated that the price of Firefly EVs will not be more than MINI. The incoming model, which we expect to finally see during NIO Day, will be positioned as a small boutique car starting at just over RMB 100,000.
Li also reiterated that the Firefly EV has been designed according to high safety and quality standards and will achieve the five-star safety collision standard for Europe when it hits the markets overseas, which is expected in the second half of next year.
China should see deliveries of Firefly EVs much sooner following the launch on NIO Day. The annual event is always full of exciting news from the automaker, so you can bet we will be tuning in and reporting back.
Feature image credit: IT Home/Weibo
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