Nio Unveils Firefly EV Hatchback

Nio unveiled its new sub-brand for electric vehicles, named Firefly, during Nio Day 2024, held on December 21, 2024. Alongside this, the company showcased the first EV model under the new sub-brand, revealing preliminary details. Firefly is positioned similarly to how Mini is for BMW.

Nio’s European team led by ex-BMW veteran Kris Tomasson designed the car in Munich. The design exudes a retro vibe, featuring clean body lines and a standout element—triple light clusters arranged in a triangular pattern, separated from one another, with a black stripe running through the center. This distinctive design is applied to both the headlights and taillights.

While the Nio Firefly comes equipped with conventional side mirrors, it also features front-facing cameras mounted on the front fenders. Other design elements include black accents on the lower body trim, side mirrors, roof spoiler, roof, and A- and B-pillars, leaving only the C-pillar painted in the same color as the body. The car’s wheels sport a six-spoke design, and the rear hatch opens in a clamshell style. The interior hasn’t been fully revealed yet, but partial images show that the cabin is decorated entirely in cream tones.

Despite its compact size, the Nio Firefly offers excellent utility with a 92-liter front trunk and a rear storage capacity of up to 1,250 liters. The vehicle is powered by an electric EV system with battery-swapping technology and boasts an ultra-tight turning radius of just 4.7 meters.

The Nio Firefly features a body structure made of 83.4% high-strength steel and aluminum, along with dual impact-absorbing beams at the front and sides and 9 airbags. It has achieved a 5-star safety rating from C-NCAP. The full launch and market release in China are scheduled for 2025, but interested customers can already place reservations with a deposit of 199 yuan (approximately $27 USD) to receive a 2,000 yuan (approximately ~ $274 USD) discount upon purchase. The pre-sale starting price of the Nio Firefly is set at 148,800 yuan (~ $20,400 USD).

The Firefly EV, like other Nio vehicles, supports battery swapping. However, details about the battery capacity, vehicle dimensions, powertrain, and whether it features rear-wheel drive (RWD) or front-wheel drive (FWD) have not been revealed. The Firefly EV is expected to debut in April next year, likely at the Shanghai Auto Show.

This design choice reflects Nio’s original intention to develop the Firefly for the European market, emphasizing ease of driving on narrow streets. The Firefly is set to compete with BMW’s Mini, the Smart brand from the Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture, and the Volkswagen ID.3. Nio boss Li emphasized during the presentation that the Firefly is a global EV and confirmed that the electric hatchback will make its European debut during the first half of 2025, with launches in Latin America and Southeast Asia to follow. The company also also reiterated its goal to enter 25 countries by 2025.