Nio’s CEO William Li announced at a recent user communication event that the company’s upcoming Firefly brand will feature its own dedicated battery swap stations, distinct from those used by Nio and Onvo brands. This marks the first public confirmation that Firefly will operate independently in terms of infrastructure.
According to Li, Firefly’s smaller stations will resemble shipping containers in size and offer additional amenities such as coffee, creating a more compact and versatile service point for customers.
Nio recently launched its Onvo sub-brand, known as Ledao in China, with the debut of its first model, the L60, priced at RMB 219,900 ($30,260) for pre-sale. This positions the Onvo L60 competitively against Tesla’s (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model Y, priced RMB 30,000 lower and slated for September deliveries.
Li elaborated on the strategic positioning of Firefly, likening it to BMW’s Mini, focusing on small and micro car markets while adhering to European safety standards and supporting battery swap technology. This approach aims to significantly lower the entry barrier for customers interested in these models, albeit with a monthly battery fee.
Nio’s ongoing advancements in battery swap technology include the recent deployment of fourth-generation stations capable of servicing multiple vehicle brands without modifications. However, Li acknowledged the need to retrofit third-generation stations to accommodate Onvo models, estimating costs between RMB 200,000 to RMB 300,000 per station during a recent earnings call.
