Nio ignites European aspirations with affordable Firefly EV

Nio's sub-brand Firefly has officially launched its first new small electric hatchback, the Firefly EV. Price between RMB 119,800 and RMB 125,800 (approximately $16,770 to $17,600) in China, the Firefly is designed to boost Nio's sales volume. The company has confirmed that this compact EV will also make its way to Europe.

The Firefly is the first model under Nio's third brand and made its initial appearance during Nio Day 2024 with a pre-sale price of RMB 148,800 ($20,830). Nio has since reduced the price by nearly 20% as the official sales kicked off in China on April 19th. Deliveries of this urban-focused hatchback will start on April 29th.

Breaking away from Nio's established design language, the Firefly sports a distinctive and modern look. Key design elements include eye-catching round headlights and taillights, sleek flush door handles, and a contrasting black roof. Customers in China can choose from five vibrant exterior colors: purple, green, beige, white, and gray.

The Firefly measures 157.6 inches in length, 70.1 inches in width, and 61.3 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 103 inches. This makes the Firefly 6 inches longer than the Mini Cooper SE. Despite its compact dimensions, the Firefly offers impressive practicality for its class. It features a 3.35 ft³ front trunk, along with 27 cleverly designed storage spaces within the cabin. The rear trunk offers a standard volume of 11.8 ft³, which expands to 44.2 ft³ with the rear seats folded down. Additionally, there is a hidden 1.02 ft³ storage compartment located under the right rear seat.

The interior of the Nio Firefly EV is equipped with modern technology and comfort features. The center console features a 13.2-inch floating touchscreen display, while a 6-inch LCD instrument panel is positioned on the steering column. The car also comes with a premium audio system with 14 speakers and Dolby 7.1 surround sound, an integrated fragrance system, and customizable 256-color ambient lighting.

The Firefly EV comes standard with a 105 kW (141 horsepower) electric motor. This powertrain allows the hatchback to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.2 seconds, with a top speed limited to 93 mph. The vehicle gets a 42.1 kWh battery pack, providing an official driving range of 261 miles based on the Chinese CLTC standards. Consistent with other Nio models, the Firefly EV supports battery swap technology, with the Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription option becoming available for Firefly owners starting on August 1st.

There are two trim levels available - the Zizai and the Faguang. Both trims share the same electric powertrain, but the higher-tier Faguang model includes enhanced features such as heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, power adjustments for the front seats, upgraded interior materials, and a memory function for the front passenger seat. The Firefly Zizai is priced at RMB 119,800 ($16,770), and the Firefly Faguang costs RMB 125,800 ($17,600).

With its attractive pricing and features, the Nio Firefly EV will compete with other electric vehicles in its segment, including the Volkswagen ID.3, Ora 03 (also known as Funky Cat), and Lynk & Co 02. We only wish the Firefly kept its Chinese prices once it arrives in Europe - that, unfortunately, is not possible. But it'll be interesting to see how Nio positions its funky hatchback against its European competitors.

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