Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Nio’s legal department said on Monday that it has filed a lawsuit and begun legal proceedings to identify the owner of a Weibo account accused of “spreading seriously false information” about the Onvo brand under the guise of a “major scoop.”
Nio launched the Onvo brand in May as a more affordable option. Its first model, the five-seat L60 SUV, began deliveries in China in late September, with international markets expected to follow later this year.
In a statement on its Weibo account, the company said the model has consistently ranked among the best-selling pure electric SUVs in its segment since early 2025.
“Since the beginning of 2025, the Onvo L60 has consistently ranked among the top three models in the pure-electric SUV market within the 200,000–300,000 yuan [$27,600-$41,400] price range,” Nio wrote.
The company added that the brand’s sales and service network “is expanding rapidly” with “nearly 400 stores and over 300 service centers established nationwide.”
This year, the company plans to launch two new SUVs, bringing Onvo’s lineup to three all-electric models.
Ambitious Targets
Amid the launch of its first SUV, the company’s management set an ambitious target for ramping up production capacity for the L60, which is manufactured at Nio’s second factory (F2) in Hefei, China.
At the time, Nio founder and CEO William Li, along with Onvo president Alan Ai, said production capacity was expected to reach 5,000 units in November, 10,000 in December, 16,000 in January, and 20,000 in March.
After having delivered 4,319 units in its first full month of production, Onvo delivered 5,082 L60s in November and 10,528 in December. Despite aiming for a production capacity of 16,000 vehicles in January, deliveries stood at 5,912.
In the statement, Nio said that “since its launch, Onvo has received widespread positive feedback from both the market and users.”
“However, recently, we have observed unusual behavior from certain online accounts attempting to defame Nio and its sub-brands,” the company added before claiming that the group has been facing “orchestrated smear campaigns.”
“Some accounts appear to be engaging in orchestrated smear campaigns, while others fabricate falsehoods outright, causing significant and ongoing damage to Nio’s brand reputation and user trust,” the company’s legal department stated.
Weekly Registrations
Onvo registered 370 vehicles between February 3 and 9 — data shared by Li Auto last week showed.
Registration numbers stayed low across most manufacturers due to ongoing disruptions from the Chinese New Year holiday, which took place from January 28 to February 4.
Regarding the Onvo brand and its direct competitors, Tesla registered 3,800 units of the previous-generation Model Y as total insured units fell to 6,220 vehicles. The company recently discontinued sales of this version as it prepares to begin global deliveries of the updated Model Y next month.
New Discounts and Incentives
Onvo recently announced a series of limited-time incentives, offering customers who place a deposit by February 28 a 0% down payment and a three-year interest-free financing plan worth 14,840 yuan ($2,045).
Additionally, the brand is also offering additional benefits, including three years of free Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) worth 11,520 yuan ($1,580), a battery rental plan allowing customers to pay for four months and receive one month free (valued at 4,193 yuan or $570), and 24 Onvo charging vouchers worth 1,620 yuan ($220).
Other incentives include discounts on body color and wheel selection, each worth 3,000 yuan ($411), and a 3,000-point vehicle pickup reward equivalent to 300 yuan ($41).