Chinese Automaker NIO plans to sell electric vehicles in Europe from 2022: First stop Norway
Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has announced that it is rolling out the brand to European customers, starting with Norway. From 2022, Norwegian customers will have access to NIO’s high-speed Supercharger network, the NIO Power Swap technology and NIO House incorporating the brand experience with servicing facilities.
NIO announces expansion into Norway with ES8 SUV
In a smooth Silicon Valley-esque online launch, Chinese premium electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has announced that it is rolling out the brand to European customers, starting with Norway. From 2022, Norwegian customers will have access to NIO’s high-speed Supercharger network, the NIO Power Swap technology and NIO House incorporating the brand experience with servicing facilities.
The flagship ES8 SUV will be the first vehicle available to Norwegian customers, with deliveries commencing in September this year. Offering a WLTP range of 500km from its 100 kWh battery, the full-size SUV sports dual motors, with 405 kW (540 PS) and 725 Nm (535 lb ft). Orders open for the ES8 in July 2021.
A concept rendering of NIO’s planned European service centers. Image: NIO
NIO’s ET7 sedan. Image: NIO
NIO House and Battery Charging
NIO has commenced construction on its ‘NIO House’, dubbed the meeting place for NIO users. NIO has already hired its core team of local experts, and the 2000 square metre NIO House in the centre of Oslo is designed as a brand showcase and service centre. NIO plans four additional facilities in 2022, in Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim and Kristansand.
In addition, NIO intends to bring its Power Swap technology to Europe, which enables vehicle batteries to be exchanged at automated facilities within three minutes. The company claims four battery swap stations will be operational before the close of 2021. It’s unclear if NIO will introduce its Battery as a Service plan to European customers; currently, owners in China are able to pay a reduced upfront cost for their vehicle, but leasing the battery as a separate package.
NIO will also be rolling out its own Supercharger network at busy sites along popular routes, and will bring an AC home charging solution to market for European customers in 2022.
2022 will bring the NIO to five additional European markets, and will also see the launch of the ET7 sedan later in the year.
Watch the replay of the press conference below.
![Xpeng P5 EV set for April 14 reveal; company posts all time quarterly sales record for 2021 [UPDATED]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5237a580e4b09510ca448d5e/1617864573620-OW94O0V3EMOMDV212S2D/Xpeng-P7.jpg)
Xpeng P5 EV set for April 14 reveal; company posts all time quarterly sales record for 2021 [UPDATED]
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (also known as XMotors.ai and Xiaopeng Motors) will reveal their P5 mid-size electric sedan online on April 14 at 2pm ET/8pm CET/4am 15/4 AEST prior to the media and public reveal at the Shanghai Auto Fair.
Xpeng’s upcoming P5 sedan
[Updated]: Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng (also known as XMotors.ai and Xiaopeng Motors) will reveal their P5 mid-size electric sedan online on April 14 at 2pm ET/8pm CET/4am 15/4 AEST prior to the media and public reveal at the Shanghai Auto Fair. This follows the recent sighting of camouflaged prototypes undergoing final development testing on the streets of China, and the following teaser image from XPeng:
XPeng’s Chairman He Xiaopeng has hinted in previous discussions with Chinese media that the P5 will be the first production vehicle with Lidar technology — now confirmed in the above tweet — and that the P5 will be equivalent in size roughly to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord (and obviously, Tesla’s Model 3)
The P5 carries the company’s contemporary styling cues, and appears to offer two driver displays in the interior. The vehicle architecture is shared with the company’s G3 crossover, and customer deliveries are expected to commence towards the end of 2021.
XPeng’s P5 undisguised. Credit: reddit.com/wyboongk
XPeng posts best ever monthly and quarterly sales results
Admittedly, XPeng’s 2020 sales didn’t hit expectations due to a number of factors—only 6 months of P7 sedan sales as well as the COVID-19 pandemic—but the company has posted strong numbers for this year, with 13,340 sales from January to March 2021, versus 1,419 for the previous period in 2020. The company sold 7,974 P7 sedans, and 5,366 G3 SUVs, and also surpassed a cumulative total of 50,000 vehicles.
According to XPeng, "The Company attributed the record quarterly deliveries to its growing brand recognition and product appeal, expanded product portfolio and its relentless efforts in broadening sales, marketing and supercharging service networks across China."
Xpeng is working hard to continue growing its sales as well as its brand in China, and faces stiff competition from BYD, NIO, upcoming Zhiji Auto and of course, Tesla. XPeng is growing its DC fast charging network across China, with over 935 sites across 139 cities available by the end of 2021. The company has also reached an agreement with NIO for customers of either brand to be able to share fast charging stations. In addition, Xpeng has brought in a lower-priced lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery option from CATL, designed for city-based customers for whom a longer battery range is of limited value. Customers who opt for the LFP battery option can expect to save around RMB 20,000 ($3,000 US) per vehicle.
BYD achieves record new energy vehicle sales in China for Q1 2021, strong 2020 net profit
Chinese automaker BYD has had a strong sales start to 2021, with 53,380 passenger vehicle sales in the first quarter, comprising battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). That represents a 148 percent increase over the same period last year.
BYD achieves 148 percent increase in NEV sales for Q1 2021
Chinese automaker BYD has had a strong sales start to 2021, with 53,380 passenger vehicle sales in the first quarter, comprising battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). That represents a 148 percent increase over the same period last year, where 21,520 new energy vehicles were sold.
2020 sales were obviously heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in China, but it’s important to see automakers in China returning to strong numbers, even in what is a traditionally quiet sales period after January’s pre-Chinese New Year sales rush.
March 2021 marks the seventh consecutive month of year-on-year growth for BYD’s new energy vehicle sales, and the company is continuing to innovate, with improvements to its in-house lithium iron phosphate (LFP) ‘Blade Battery’, including the claim of over 3,000 available charge cycles or 1.2 million kilometres from the new cells.
BYD’s revenue and profit soars in 2020
BYD has also posted annual revenue figures for 2020, and despite COVID-19, posted a revenue figure of 156.598 billion yuan ($23.87 billion USD). This represents an increase of 22.59 percent over 2019. Net profit attributable to shareholders also headed for the sky, with a 162.27 percent increase over 2019, to 4.234 billion yuan ($645.349 million USD).
All this despite the company’s 2020 output of new vehicles—including fossil fuel powered vehicles and commercial vehicles—declining 5.08% year over year:
BYD 2020 sales
Total new vehicle sales: 431,954 units (down 5.08%)
Total passenger vehicle sales: 394,608 units (down 3.62%)
Total new energy vehicle sales: 162,893 units (down 12.52%)
Total fossil fuel passenger vehicle sales: 231,715 units (up 3.81%)
Analysts have forecasted that BYD's net profit attributable to shareholders for the first quarter of 2021 is forecasted to reach 200 million to 300 million yuan ($30.482 million to $45.723 million USD), an increase of somewhere between 80 and 160 percent from the first quarter of 2020.
BYD is going from strength to strength, trouncing rivials NIO and Xpeng in sales volume (however both manufacturers also had strong first quarter results, despite lower volumes), and recently announcing a slew of new passenger vehicles for 2021 (which will exclusively use BYD’s in-house ‘blade battery’) and the expected unveiling of a new EV brand in the next few weeks.
The BYD Tang SUV interior. Image: BYD
Source: Gasgoo
NIO Reveals Striking ET7 Sedan with 1,000km Range
NIO has pulled the covers off the new ET7 Sedan at its annual NIO Day. NIO claims exceptional range, performance and luxury from this striking sedan, as well as the introduction of Lidar technology — a first in all-electric consumer vehicles — to aid autonomous operation.
NIO has pulled the covers off the new ET7 Sedan at its annual NIO Day. NIO claims exceptional range, performance and luxury from this striking sedan, as well as the introduction of Lidar technology — a first in all-electric consumer vehicles — to aid autonomous operation.
Exterior Design
Clearly carrying cues from the ET Preview displayed in 2019, the ET7 is objectively a handsome car. The short, squat front end is muscular and sporty, and its small, narrow headlights and grille-less front end are reminiscent of Hyundai’s 2021 Kona. The deliberate, triangular slots for the additional front lights remind us of the Kia Stinger (no bad thing).
Images: NIO
With a large glasshouse profile, NIO designers have kept the side of the vehicle simple yet cohesive. One accentuating crease near the top of the door plays beautifully with light, while a rising ‘power line’ on the lower part of the doors is reminiscent of Audi’s A5 and A7 Sportback models.
The tapering rear roofline and chunky three quarter panel remind us of the Polestar 2, without the squared-off edges. It’s elegant — if a little unexciting — but does well to give the rear presence while masking the bulk of the vehicle.
The rear itself shares design elements the Audi A7 and Tesla Model 3, with what looks to be an integrated retractable spoiler as well as a fixed ducktail lip in the boot (trunk) lid, and plenty of horizontal lines to accentuate dynamism and presence. Plus the (now ubiquitous) LED light bar running the width of the vehicle as seen on vehicles from Polestar to Porsche.
Interior
The interior is a clean combination of Volvo Scandi-minimalism, Tesla austerity and familiar design cues from the NIO family. NIO has made a big deal about "invisible" smart air vents on both front and rear row, frameless windows and soft close doors with flush door handles.
NIO has compared the interior of the ET7 to a second living room, and it appears to be a comfortable space for four adults on a long trip. Standard equipment includes smart air suspension, heating, ventilation and massage functions all round. There is a full length glass roof, a 23 speaker audio system, dual-LCD screen dashboard and NIO’s Nomi; the automotive world’s first in-vehicle digital assistant.
Battery and Drivetrain
The NIO ET7 will initially be offered with two battery options; a 70 kWh with 500km (310 miles) of range, and 100 kWh with 700km (440 miles) range.
NIO plans a version with a solid-state battery packing 150 kWh and a density of 360wh/kg for later in 2022, which the company claims will offer 1,000km (620 miles) of range. While a number of automakers including Toyota have publicly discussed plans to develop solid state batteries and claim many advantages over Tesla’s technology, for now, solid state batteries have inferior cycle life to batteries with liquid electrolytes, such as Tesla’s setup.
NIO has also revealed Power Swap 2.0, it’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) swap technology. While many — including us to a degree — remain sceptical about the scalability of this battery swap model, many NIO owners and Chinese customers generally are fond of the technology, which allows drivers to either turn up or book in a time to swap their vehicle’s battery pack in a matter of minutes. NIO claims the stations will be able to store 13 battery packs and provide up to 312 battery swaps per day. NIO plans over 500 battery swap stations by the end of 2021. NIO will offer a monthly payment option for this battery swap technology.
The ET7 offers an all wheel drive dual motor setup, with a permanent magnet motor in the front and an induction motor in the rear. It has a peak system output of 480 kW and 850 Nm of torque. NIO quotes a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3.9 seconds.
Autonomy and Vehicle Technology
One hundred million. That’s the number of real-world kilometres driven using Tesla’s Autopilot system, and its the reason Tesla will be so hard to beat when it comes to autonomous driving. During NIO’s presentation of the ET7, the company praised the new NAD (NIO Autonomous Driving) system, with its Lidar, eleven eight-megapixel cameras and crazy powerful — 1,016 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) — Nvidia chip, but what they didn’t talk about was software.
Elon Musk has long dismissed Lidar on passenger vehicles as unnecessary, and has even claimed “LiDAR is a fool's errand…anyone relying on LiDAR is doomed.” Tesla has stuck with a system of cameras and radar for the “eyes” of its autopilot system, but Tesla has had vehicles gathering data in the real-world for years now, with its Neural Network processing trillions of data points. In the video by Whole Mars Blog, a Tesla Model 3 successfully navigates from San Francisco to Los Angeles with almost zero human intervention, with just its computing power, and Tesla’s radar and camera system. Seriously impressive.
The NIO ET7 is due for release sometime in 2022, and pricing is as follows:
NIO ET7 (70 kWh)
448,000 yuan (US$69,185)
with BaaS: 378,000 yuan ($58,375) plus 980 yuan ($151) per month
ET7 (100 kWh)
506,000 yuan (US$78,142)
with BaaS: 378,000 yuan ($58,375) plus 1,480 yuan ($229) per monthET7 Premier edition (100 kWh)
526,000 yuan (US$81,230)
with BaaS: 398,000 yuan ($61,463) plus 1,480 yuan ($229) per month
NIO's First Autonomous Driving Sedan to be Unveiled on NIO Day
Chinese automaker NIO is set to unveil the company’s first autonomous driving sedan at an event on January 9, 2021. NIO claims the vehicle will premiere the latest autonomous driving technologies and a 150 kWh battery pack, which would be the largest fitted to a production passenger vehicle. We can expect NIO has Tesla’s Long Range Model S in its sights with this battery, and will be aiming to exceed the 647km (402 mi) range of the Model S.
Chinese automaker NIO (NASDAQ: NIO) is set to unveil the company’s first autonomous driving sedan at an event on January 9, 2021. NIO claims the vehicle will premiere the latest autonomous driving technologies and a 150 kWh battery pack, which would be the largest fitted to a production passenger vehicle. We can expect NIO has Tesla’s Long Range Model S in its sights with this battery, and will be aiming to exceed the 647km (402 mi) range of the Model S.
From the teaser released by NIO, the new sedan appears similar — in silhouette at least — to the company's ET Preview Concept released at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, with the fastback roofline, pronounced hip flare running from the front fender to the rear, and the short, squat front end.
According to NIO, “the event will feature a range of exciting activities, including performances by the famous music composer Shi Lei Chang, NIO BAND, whose NIO Day 2020 theme song "The Future is Ahead," and leading Chinese musician Wang Feng.”
NIO ET Preview Concept. Images: NIO
