Chinese Tesla rival NIO targets Europe with its smart EVs as it takes a first step towards going global
- Norway looks set to be the first market that NIO will explore outside mainland China
- ‘We want to be part of the business community in Europe,’ says company president Qin Lihong
Qin Lihong, co-founder and president of the EV start-up, told reporters at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show that a sales team focusing on the European market had been established and a detailed plan about its expansion into the market would be announced in early May.
“We want to be part of the business community in Europe,” he said. “Selling some of our vehicles to make some money is not our ultimate goal.”
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He added that NIO had no immediate plan to set up production facilities in Europe.
Norway looks set to be the first market that NIO will explore outside mainland China, with a showroom in the northern European nation expected to open in September, according to local media outlet Bilbransje24, which cited Marius Hayler, the chief executive of NIO Norway.
Guangzhou-headquartered Xpeng handed over 100 G3 smart SUVs (sport-utility vehicles) to buyers in Norway at the end of 2020, the first time Chinese-made smart EVs had been directly delivered to individual customers in Europe.