Nio’s Firefly EV: revealed new details, on sale in China in April

Two months after initial details of the Firefly were revealed, the Nio-backed company has released new images and details of its upcoming EV that is scheduled to go on sale in China in April and expected to enter the European market in Q2 2025

Nio opened pre-sales for the upcoming Firefly EV during Nio Day on 21 December 2024, with an estimated price of 148,800 yuan ($20,460). Customers in China can place a booking with a 199 yuan ($24) deposit. Roughly two months after initial details of the Firefly were revealed, the Nio-backed company has released real-world photos and more details of its upcoming EV that is scheduled to go on sale in China in April. 

In these newly released photos, the Firefly gets a cluster of three circular lights on each corner of the car, creating a distinctive visual identity. Moreover, both the headlights and tail lights feature a black trim piece that interconnects the lights for a unified look. Other design elements include a subtle kink in the lower trim piece beneath the doors, hidden door handles, and a blacked-out rear spoiler. 

While earlier photos of the Firefly showcased the model with a simple six-spoke wheel design, these new photos revealed that it can be had with these sleek multi-spoke wheels, though the wheel dimensions are undisclosed. The Firefly measures 4003/1781/1557mm, with a wheelbase of 2,615mm. For context, that’s comparable to the 5-door Mini Cooper (4036/1727/1425mm).  the Firefly will support Nio’s battery-swapping technology, allowing for the battery to be swappable, chargeable, and upgradable. Said battery is a 42.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from Sunwoda, enabling a CLTC-rated range of 420 km. The battery powers a 105 kW (140 hp) electric motor. Unlike the front-wheel-drive Mini Cooper 5-door, the Firefly is rear-wheel drive and gets a near 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution. 

According to Firefly Ceo Daniel Jin, the Firefly is designed as a global EV and will be competing with some well-established marques, like Mini and Smart, albeit at a more affordable price. He also added that the brand is expected to enter the European market in Q2 2025, followed by Latin America and Southeast Asia markets.