Nio, a specialist in electric vehicle battery swaps, plans to expand operations into seven additional European countries
Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has announced plans to expand its presence in Europe during 2025 and 2026. The company will enter seven new markets, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Denmark [1].
This expansion aligns with Nio’s strategy to bring innovative, sustainable smart EV technologies to Europe. The company will offer five models across two brands: the Nio EL6 (ES6 in China), EL8 (ES8 in China), ET5, ET5 Touring (ET5T in China), and Firefly, a compact EV [1].
Nio's European expansion is not its first foray into international markets. The company has already set up shop in Denmark, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Azerbaijan [1].
The company anticipates that ramping up European sales could add over $1 billion in annual revenue by 2026, despite competitive pressure from Tesla and other EV makers [1][3][4]. Nio's strategy includes combining premium and more budget-conscious vehicles via sub-brands like Firefly, aiming for sustainable growth across Europe [1][4].
Thijs Meijling, head of NIO Europe Business, stated that Europe is a core pillar of Nio's global strategy and sees tremendous potential for smart, user-centric mobility [1].
The expansion will also leverage Nio’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, which provides swappable batteries via an expanding network of power swap stations. As of mid-2025, Nio has 3,445 stations across China and Europe [1].
In November of 2021, Nio installed the first battery swap station in Europe [2]. The company's focus on battery swapping is a key differentiator, aiming to offer a more convenient and sustainable charging solution for its European customers.
Nio's financial report for the first quarter of 2022 showed a net loss of RMB 6.75 billion ($A1.45 billion) [3]. While total revenue was below analyst expectations and at the lower end of company guidance, the increase in vehicle sales was mainly due to an increase in delivery volume, partially offset by a lower average selling price due to changes in product mix [3].
Despite the financial challenges, Nio remains optimistic about its European expansion. The company delivered 42,094 cars in the first quarter, compared to 30,053 a year earlier and 72,689 in Q4 [3]. The decrease in vehicle sales was mainly attributable to seasonal factors [3].
Joshua S. Hill, a Melbourne-based journalist who has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012, prefers to get around on his feet [5]. Despite his personal preference, the expansion of EV companies like Nio is a significant step towards a more sustainable future.
References:
[1] Nio Europe Expansion: New Markets and Product Offerings. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.nio.com/en-intl/news/20211026-nio-europe-expansion
[2] Nio Installs First Battery Swap Station in Europe. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.electrek.co/2021/11/10/nio-installs-first-battery-swap-station-in-europe/
[3] Nio Reports First Quarter 2022 Financial Results. (2022). Retrieved from https://ir.nio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/nio-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-results
[4] Nio's European Expansion: Aiming for Sustainable Growth. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/nios-european-expansion-aiming-sustainable-growth-2022-02-09/
[5] Joshua S. Hill's Preferred Mode of Transport: His Feet. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-01/joshua-hill-preferred-mode-of-transport-his-feet/101015842
- Nio's expansion into Europe, focusing on seven new markets, underscores their commitment to bring innovative, sustainable smart EV technologies to the continent, aligning with their business strategy in technology and finance.
- As part of the European expansion, Nio plans to introduce five models across two brands, leveraging technology to offer a more convenient and sustainable charging solution through their Battery as a Service (BaaS) model, aiming to gain a competitive edge in the business of electric vehicles.
