Nio electric cars in France are not coming any time soon

Nio is doing well in China. However, its situation in Europe is far from clear, with efforts to reassure customers clashing with store closures. Its arrival in France is clearly not imminent.

Often referred to as the “Chinese Tesla” in its early years, Nio quickly tried its luck in Europe. By 2021, its first vehicles hit the roads of the continent, and the first battery swap station opened. Following its success in China, the company set ambitious goals using similar strategies. But five years later, the results are far from positive, and Nio remains uncertain about its future plans.

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The brand’s executives have admitted that they underestimated the complexity of the European market, whether it comes to establishing a battery swap network or direct sales. The strategy is being completely overhauled, to the point where their flagship dealership in Germany, located in Düsseldorf, has just closed its doors. The launch of the Firefly city car couldn’t come at a worse time.

Nevertheless, William Li wants to reassure everyone. Nio is in Europe to stay there. Short-term development is slower than expected, but the long-term ambition remains unchanged. The first change will be in distribution, which will move toward a more traditional model in the future: a network of independent dealers rather than just the large Nio Houses. But to attract partners, products are needed.

Nio plans to bring its less premium models from the Onvo brand to Europe. The upcoming models under development are intended to incorporate European customers’ needs from the outset. But there’s no rush—Onvo will arrive in Europe at the earliest in 2028. Initially, it will enter the countries where the Chinese group is already present: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany. Nio’s launch in France, announced multiple times, is likely to take place not before 2030.