NIO launched its second sub-brand of high-end compact electric cars, the “Firefly,” on 21st Dec 2024, in China, with a compact electric hatchback model bearing the same Firefly name and positioning it directly against the BMW Mini and Mercedes Geely Smart cars. According to William Li, Nio’s founder, “We are making the Firefly to be more Smart than the Mini and to be more Mini than the Smart.” The Nio Firefly model comes with a swappable battery and was offered at a presale price of 148,800 yuan (USD 20,400).
The brand logo is inspired by the firefly, which is small, flexible, full of energy, and glowing freely. It’s been created for people who are confident and love life.
Nio had planned to launch the Firefly first in Europe, but with Europe imposing tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, the model was first launched in China. Nio does plan to launch it in Europe too by mid-2025. “Unlike Nio cars, the Firefly will rely on local partners for sales in Europe,” William Li said.
Performance and Specifications
Very limited technical details have been revealed apart from the fact that it may be bigger than the Mini and smaller than the Smart, judging from William Li’s words. The Nio Firefly will have a turning radius of 4.7 meters, which, according to Nio, is the smallest in its class. The car will also have a smart, full-scenario automatic parking feature.
The Nio Firefly model will be offered with Nio’s trademark battery-swapping technology, though Nio claims it may set up new swapping stations for the Firefly as the existing ones are currently not suitable due to its size.
Keeping safety in mind, according to Nio, the torsional rigidity of the body is as high as 35,700 Nm/degree, which is the strongest in its class. High-strength steel and aluminum alloy account for 83.4%, which is comparable to luxury models. Firefly will come standard with 9 airbags, the largest number in its class, again comparable to luxury models.
Design
The Nio Firefly is a cute looking compact, 5-door hatchback reminding us of the Honda e. Its unique three circular headlights make it both recognizable and unforgettable.
Overall, the car has smooth, curvy lines, giving it a nice, solid look. According to Nio, they have tried to design the car in such a way that it appears to be dynamically moving even when standing still.
No images or details about the interior have been released so far, which we expect will be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Nio Firefly has a 92-liter trunk with a drainage option in the front, which Nio claims to be the largest in its class. Also, after folding the rear seats, the back space is over 1,250 liters. It also comes standard with 9 airbags, again the largest number in its class.
In short
Nio Firefly is a cute-looking, compact electric hatchback costing only 148,800 yuan (US$ 20,400) in China. By launching Firefly as a budget, high-end, compact EV sub-brand, Nio is trying to target a potential market that has always eluded them because of the high price of its own Nio vehicles. Nio is trying to widen its price spectrum so as to address a larger market.
Firefly’s main strength is that it can use Nio’s vast experience in R&D, manufacturing, intelligent software development, and, of course, its battery swapping technology to its advantage. Presently there is no car in this price bracket coming with a swappable battery. It’s definitely going to attract people living in flats with no access to home chargers, and its battery rental program lowers the initial cost, thus making the deal even more attractive.
With its nice, unforgettable looks, ample space, focus on safety, and battery-swapping service in minutes, Nio,s Firefly seems destined to fly quickly and glow the lives of many buyers.