We’re simply days away from Chinese language EV automaker NIO’s annual NIO Day occasion, which has already promised some massive reveals, together with the long-teased ET9 and the primary mannequin below its new FireFly sub-brand. As an appetizer, NIO has shared the primary un-camouflaged pictures of the ET9 and its official FireFly brand.
NIO stays a mainstay on Electrek‘s homepage as a result of it all the time appears to be saying one thing new and attention-grabbing. With its major marque nicely established and increasing globally, we’ve been following NIO’s rollout of two new sub-brands referred to as Onvo and FireFly, the final twelve months particularly.
Whereas we get loads of thrilling information from the Chinese language automaker all through the annual calendar, no occasion is extra more likely to embrace landmark bulletins than its annual NIO Day occasion, held each December. Up to now, we’ve seen NIO unveil flagship sedans just like the ET7, adopted by the debut of the ET5 sedan a yr later. NIO additionally shared plans to increase to new international markets by 2025.
The 2022 occasion included unveiling NIO’s ES8 and EC7 SUVs, pushing the automaker’s lineup to eight obtainable EVs. For 2023, we realized NIO would unveil a brand new flagship mannequin we speculated can be the ultra-luxe ET9.
That might be true. The ET9 debuted at a pre-sale value of RMB 800,000 ($109,810) – NIO’s costliest mannequin to this point. It sits atop a 900V platform full with an upgradeable wire-controlled chassis. It’s been almost a yr, nevertheless, and since then, we’ve solely gotten camouflaged peeks on the NIO ET9 and its capabilities.
With a promise to formally launch the brand new ET9 at NIO Day later this week, the automaker has posted a number of pictures for the general public in addition to an official take a look at the emblem that will likely be donned by its new line of inexpensive FireFly EVs.
NIO presents a transparent take a look at ET9 earlier than unveiling this week
Earlier than we get all of the juicy particulars in regards to the ET9 and NIO’s plans for 2025 and past, the automaker provided its finest take a look at its subsequent flagship mannequin but. NIO posted a number of pictures (seen above) to its Weibo web page with the next caption:
The high-tech government flagship NIO ET9 will likely be formally launched on December twenty first, NIO Day 2024. The unique ‘flying physique design’ creates a strong aura of an epoch-making government flagship with the flagship dimension. Elegant posture, offered with beautiful particulars. The debut is to guide innovation.
Following the upcoming launch, NIO expects ET9 deliveries to start in China in Q1 of 2025. Along with the sedan’s distinctive clever chassis system, the ET9 would be the first mannequin geared up with NIO’s personal 5 NM process-based “Shenji” autonomous driving chip, evolving from its present NT 2.0 platform that makes use of 4 NVIDIA Orin chips.
We should wait till this weekend to be taught the place ET9 pricing formally lands and the way shut that determine is to the presale value. Along with the launch of the ET9, NIO has additionally promised to launch its new FireFly sub-brand and unveil its first mannequin.
Thus far, we’ve solely seen a camo’d picture of the EV’s aspect profile, which seems to be a family-friendly compact, however we’re sure to get a full look in a few days. Beforehand, NIO co-founder and president Qin Lihong has stated that Firefly EV fashions will likely be priced between RMB 100,000 ($13,800) and RMB 200,000 ($27,500).
Moreover, FireFly will be a part of NIO’s Onvo model on sale in China earlier than increasing to Europe in 2025. Throughout a current interview with native media outlet 36kr, Firefly president Daniel Jinsaid the model’s first mannequin will likely be launched in China within the first half of 2025, adopted by a launch in Europe probably 1 / 4 later. We all know the flagship mannequin will share the identical identify because the FireFly model itself, however not a lot else at this level.
Forward of FireFly’s debut at NIO Day 2024, the automaker launched the sub-brand’s official app, which showcased its model brand you possibly can see beneath.:
NIO Day 2024 is scheduled for this Saturday, December 21, in Guangzhou, within the Guangdong province of China. Belief we’ll comply with up with a full recap as we be taught extra.
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