China EV maker Nio hints at Aussie launch, rolls out new Tesla Model 3 fighter
Australia appears to be up in lights as one of the countries the ambitious Chinese battery electric vehicle brand Nio intends to launch in by 2025.
At the annual Nio Day held in Suzhou last weekend, company founder and CEO William Li revealed the international expansion plan.
Currently, Nio exports its ES8 SUV to Norway. Its new ET7 large sedan goes on-sale in China and internationally in 2022.
Li also unveiled the smaller Tesla Model 3-rivalling ET5 hatchback at Nio Day that will also be a global model. Deliveries are scheduled to start in September 2022.
First launched in 2014, Nio has also recently revealed plans for a Volkswagen-rivalling mainstream brand.
Li said the launch of the ES8 SUV in Norway had given the brand confidence to expand into other global markets.
“In 2022, Nio’s products and complete service system will be officially brought to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark,” Li announced.
“We plan by 2025 to offer service to users in over 25 countries and regions across the globe.”
While Li didn’t go further in listing export targets, a giant illuminated map behind him on-stage may have given the game away.
Australia and New Zealand were lit up along with much of Europe, China, Japan and the USA as Li spoke.
The rest of the globe remained in darkness.
Li spent far more time on the dual motor mid-sized ET5 than export plans. It is priced from RMB 258,000 ($57,000) as a battery swapper and from RMB 328,000 ($72,200) with battery included.
Nio claims a CLTC (China Light Vehicle Testing) range of more than 1000km for the ET5 when fitted with the largest 150kWh long range battery.
The smallest battery choice is 75kWh, delivering over 550km of range, while there is also a 100kWh battery pack with over 750km of range.
Powered by a 150kW induction motor up-front and 210kW permanent magnetic motor at the rear, the ET5 produces a maximum 360kW and 700Nm. A choice of eight drive modes control the nature of delivery.
Nio claims the ET5 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 4.3 seconds and decelerate from 100km/h-0 in 33.9m using four-piston fixed calliper brakes it has developed.
A 0.24 drag coefficient is claimed for the ET5, aided by such trickery as flush doorhandles.
The ET5 comes with the latest version of Nio Autonomous Driving (NAD). Employing Nio’s Aquila super sensing (including ultralong-range Lidar) and Adam Super Computing, it has 19 driver assists systems standard.
The ET5 is promised to “gradually achieve” the ability to autonomously navigate highways, urban areas, parking and battery swapping. NAD’s full features will be gradually rolled out after development validation, and be available to users via a RMB 680 ($150) monthly subscription.
The interior of the ET5 will come with PanoCinema, a panoramic digital cockpit featuring AR and VR tech. Nio partnered with an AR device company called NREAL to jointly develop AR glasses, which can project a 201-inch screen at six metres for drivers.
There is also an all-new 256-color curtain of ambient lighting and a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 surround sound system. Air-con vents and speakers for the 1000 watt audio are invisible. All up, Nio claims the ET5 comes with more than 100 comfort and safety features.
Built around a skateboard platform, ultra-high strength steel and aluminium body and five-link front-rear-suspensions, the ET5 measures up at 4790mm long, 1499mm high, 1960mm wide and has a 2888mm wheelbase. Nio also says it has a 50:50 weight balance.
The styling is reminiscent of the ET7 and has links around the haunches to the EP9 supercar, with which Nio first earned any widespread attention. The roof is made of glass.
Nio says the ET5 has been engineered for a five star Euro NCAP rating, which should also deliver the maximum five stars under the local ANCAP system.
