Chinese language EV maker Nio has launched its price range model Firefly, set to tackle cut-price electrical vehicles like the brand new Renault 5, Hyundai Inster, Citroen e-C3 and BYD Dolphin.

Though Nio has confirmed that Firefly will come to Europe – to be bought alongside Nio fashions already on sale on the continent – there are presently no plans for any Nio fashions to be bought within the UK.

open picture in gallery

The primary Firefly mannequin, which takes the model identify relatively than having a separate mannequin identify, was designed in Nio’s design studio in Munich and has gone on sale in China priced on the equal of £16,140.

The compact, curvy, five-door Firefly appears to be like just like the short-lived Honda-e proportionally, and will get a equally cute look with triple round headlights and tail lights, a glass roof and additional cupboard space in a frunk beneath the bonnet.

The Firefly identify comes from fireflies, unsurprisingly sufficient. In response to Nio, the Firefly is “small, agile and buzzing with power, symbolizing freedom to maneuver and being completely different. The model brand represents a flying and glowing firefly illustrating the model’s spirit: freedom to glow. The model DNA of firefly is vivid to create optimistic feelings and lasting impressions, considerate with logic and goal, and strong to convey belief and confidence.”

open picture in gallery

No additional technical data has been launched on the Firefly, aside from it has been engineered to five-star Euro NCAP crash check requirements. It’s unlikely that it’s going to get the costly battery-swap know-how of dearer Nio and Onvo fashions.

Firefly launched at this 12 months’s annual Nio day held in Guangzhou, China, with the theme “Collectively & Additional”. Together with the brand new Firefly mannequin, Nio unveiled its flagship ET9 mannequin.

In addition to the revolutionary battery-swap system and superior chassis and electrical applied sciences, the ET9 includes a two sq. meter mild carpet that welcomes house owners as they enter the automotive. The manager seating system has practically two sq. meters of full-area heating, and a 16-point scorching stone therapeutic massage perform.

Nio is part-owned by CYVN, an funding arm of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, which additionally owns British luxurious EV startup ForSeven – headed by former JLR government Nick Collins – and has just lately purchased British supercar maker McLaren Automotive. Nio additionally has an engineering base within the UK.

Nonetheless, regardless of studies linking Nio’s Onvo model with coming to the UK – thanks partially to the dearth of hefty tariffs on Chinese language car imports into the UK in contrast with Europe – these studies have been dismissed and there are presently no plans to deliver Nio, Onvo or Firefly fashions to the UK.