Nio launches European debut of the ET7
Nio has presented its ET7 electric sedan, unveiled in China earlier this year, in Germany – and Europe – for the first time. Nio also confirms that the ET7 will be the first model to be launched in Germany in 2022.
In May, Nio had announced the market entry in Norway as the first European country. Starting this month, the first examples of the ES8 E-SUV will be delivered there. Even then it was said that Germany was a potential further market for Nio’s expansion in Europe.
Around the IAA Mobility in Munich, Nio now confirmed that the first vehicles in Germany will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2022 – but unlike in Norway, it will not be the ES8, but the ET7 electric sedan.
“Entering the German market is our goal. The interest is very high and there are many enquiries from potential users,” says William Li, founder and CEO of Nio. “Our goal is to have the Nio ET7 in Germany by the end of 2022.”
The ET7 is a 5.10-metre-long premium sedan with up to 480 kW of power and – measured in the outdated NEDC – up to 1,000 kilometres of range when the largest battery with 150 kWh is installed. In addition to the electric drive, connectivity and software are also very important in the Chinese sedan.
As Nio announces in the course of the European premiere, a renewable rattan called ‘Karuun’ will be used in the interior of the ET7 for the first time in a car. “Interesting to look at and touch, and beautiful in form, this sustainable, plastic-free material is ideally suited to creating a premium interior experience,” says Kris Tomasson, vice president of design, of the material.
While Nio has not yet given any further details about the planned distribution in Germany – such as the dealer and service network or further locations for the ‘Nio Houses’ – and has also not yet given any details about a possible network of its own charging and battery exchange stations as in Norway and China, a more comprehensive expansion in Europe is a done deal.
For this task, Nio has appointed its own CEO for Europe. Alex Schwarz is new to the eMobility industry, having previously worked for companies such as Airbnb, PayPal and Ebay – so he knows his way around the digital world. “We need to focus heavily on software, mobile internet and cloud technologies in the future,” Li says of the appointment. “Alex’s experience will therefore be very important for us.”
Should there be a “big demand” for the ET7 in Europe, Nio does not rule out local production – but probably not as a Nio-exclusive plant. The company is prepared to “examine the possibility of cooperation with other partners and to discuss joint production in the region”, according to the statement.
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