NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO), a pioneer in China’s premium smart electric vehicle market, today provided its October 2020 delivery results. NIO delivered 5,055 vehicles in October 2020, a new monthly record representing a strong 100.1% year-over-year growth. The deliveries consisted of 2,695 ES6s, the Company’s 5-seater high-performance premium smart electric SUV, 1,477 ES8s, the Company’s 6-seater and 7-seater flagship premium smart electric SUV, and 883 EC6s, the Company’s 5-seater premium electric coupe SUV. NIO delivered 31,430 vehicles in 2020 in total, representing an increase of 111.4% year-over-year. As of October 31, 2020, cumulative deliveries of the ES8, ES6 and EC6 reached 63,343 vehicles.
According to founder William Li Bin, the Chinese electric car manufacturer is currently working on a battery pack with a capacity of 150 kWh, which should enable ranges of over 900 kilometers. In addition, the plans for a European launch in 2021 are apparently becoming concrete, Electrive.com reports.
William Li Bin made the statement about the 150 kWh battery at a meeting of the ‘EP Club’, a club of Nio drivers. With such a battery, Nio would not only more than double the current range of a Nio ES6 (430 kilometers in the outdated NEDC), but would also match the range of combustion engines and hybrids.
However, the Nio founder did not provide any details about the battery – there are no statements about cell chemistry, cell supplier, size, weight or cost of the battery pack. Nio plans to hold the ‘Nio Day’ in Chengdu on January 9, 2021 – an event that actually takes place between the years. “CN Tech Post” expects the new battery to be presented during the event.
In its current models, the electric car startup offers batteries with 70 and 84 kWh, and apparently a 100 kWh option is to follow this year. This is intended to meet the demand for higher ranges.
In addition, according to Gasgoo, the plans for a sales launch in Europe should become more concrete. In a project with the code name ‘Marco Polo’, Nio is said to have hired many employees for export business. Apparently, the main focus will be on the two electric SUV models ES6 and ES8, of which 7,000 units are to be sold in Europe within two years. In China, Nio still offers the EC6 SUV coupe, of which only a three-digit number was sold in October – the ES6 and ES8 are the much more important models.
According to the report, the first ‘Nio House’ could be opened in Copenhagen. In addition, the “worry-free service package” and the “One Click for Power” service are apparently to be offered in Europe. However, prices, exact dates and concrete scope of these service packages are not yet known. The company has not confirmed the Copenhagen location.
Li had underpinned Nio’s global ambitions in the summer. “Hopefully, in the second half of next year, we can start some small batch exploration in countries where EVs are popular,” Li had said in August. “We would like to start with European countries.”
About NIO Inc.
NIO Inc. is a pioneer in China’s premium smart electric vehicle market. Founded in November 2014, NIO’s mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle. NIO aims to build a community starting with smart EVs to share joy and grow together with users. NIO designs, jointly manufactures, and sells smart and connected premium electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation technologies in connectivity, autonomous driving, and artificial intelligence. Redefining the user experience, NIO provides users with comprehensive, convenient, and innovative charging solutions and other user-centric services. NIO began deliveries of the ES8, a 7-seater flagship premium electric SUV in China in June 2018, and its variant, the 6-seater ES8, in March 2019. NIO officially launched the ES6, a 5-seater high-performance premium electric SUV, in December 2018 and began the first deliveries of the ES6 in June 2019. NIO officially launched the EC6, a 5-seater premium electric coupe SUV, in December 2019 and began the first deliveries of the EC6 in September 2020.