Firefly, a sub-brand of the Chinese automaker Nio, has launched sales of its subcompact Firefly hatchback in Europe. The first vehicles have already been delivered to their owners in Norway and the Netherlands, priced far higher than on the domestic market.
In China, the Nio Firefly was introduced in late 2024 and went on sale in April priced from 119,800 Yuan. It was advertised as a rear-wheel-drive rival of the Mini Cooper and the Smart #1 on the local market. Equipped with a synchronous motor capable of 143 PS (141 hp / 105 kW) and 200 Nm (148 lb-ft) of torque, it sources its power from a 42.1-kWh LFP battery pack. Once full, the battery offers 420 kilometers (261 miles) of CLTC-rated range.
An important thing to note here is that customers in China can rent the battery for as low as 399 CNY/month, which drops the price of the car by 40,000 Yuan to just 79,800 CNY. Unless rental rates change, this approach should prove cheaper for the initial 8+ years of ownership.
Things are looking differently in Norway, where the same car costs from 279,900 Krone, and the Netherlands, where it starts from €29,990. The battery comes bundled with the car and delivers 330 kilometers (205 miles) of range according to Europe’s stricter WLTP standard. It supports 100kW charging, so replenishing it from 10 to 80% normally doesn’t take longer than 29 minutes.
In its most basic EU spec, the Nio Firefly features a 13.2-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, a 14-speaker 7.1 Dolby Atmos audio system, climate control, 256-color ambient lighting and an AI-powered personal assistant.
Sales in Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and Greece are scheduled to begin later. CnEVPost.com adds that a right-hand-drive version of the electric car is slated for production this fall.
