Discover more
Chinese EV manufacturer NIO announced details of its expansion into Europe with Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden set to see three new models hit the market.
The Berlin event held last week followed the news that the company would be entering Norway, and showcased three new models based on its NIO NT2 platform; the ET7, EL7 and ET5 to be made available alongside subscription packages to encourage consumers' transition to EVs.
READ MORE: NIO's 1000km EV: the ET7
NIO announced that the ET7, its high-performance flagship sedan, is available to order now in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden with deliveries due to start on October 16th. The manufacturer also confirmed that pre-orders for its EL7, a mid-large smart electric SUV, and the ET5 mid-size smart electric sedan are open now, with deliveries set to start in January and March 2023, respectively.
NIO's ET7: 1000km range on a charge
NIO's NT2 platform accomodates innovative battery-swap tech, where drivers can stop, swap and drive away without having to wait to charge their car.
The company is also set to begin building out this infrastructure in its new European markets, with 20 Power Swap Stations (PSS) coming by the end of 2022, alongside the launch of its trio of cars. By 2025, NIO's aim is 1,000 of these PSS outside of China - with most, it says, set for Europe.
Either way, it already has an effective network of some 380,000 chargepoints across the continent.
R&D and Formula E
NIO also confirmed its commitment to increasing its R&D capacity in Europe. In July, NIO opened an 'Innovation Centre' in Berlin, with a plant in Hungary and growing groups of engineers based at its R&D and design facilities in Oxford and Munich.
NIO 333 Racing and Team Principal Alex Hui were on hand to showcase its all-new ER9 - having tested the new Gen3 race car recently in Italy and the UK at the hands of fresh signing Sergio Sette Camara.
READ MORE: How NIO's laying the groundwork for Gen3
The team laid the groundwork for its next big step with a move to a new factory at the beginning of Season 8, in preparation for the Gen3 era from the start of Season 9.
New car, new colours: Team Principal Alex Hui with NIO's ER9 Gen3 race car
The state-of-the-art facility in Silverstone signals the team's intent, and marries with the manufacturer's push into several key European markets. All eyes are on the Anglo-Chinese outfit's performance come testing in December.