Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
On Monday, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released its latest catalogue, revealing new details about soon-to-be-launched car models in the Chinese market.
The listing confirmed that Firefly’s EV — the first model from Nio Group’s second sub-brand — will use a 42.1 kWh battery pack in its standard-range variant.
According to the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), the standar range variant of the compact EV will have 420km of range.
China’s EV range testing standard, CLTC, differs from global benchmarks such as WLTP and EPA. The CLTC cycle tends to overstate real-world performance, as it prioritizes low-speed driving and mild acceleration, favoring urban conditions over highway use.
In a previous MIIT regulatory catalog, it became known that Firefly‘s debut model will feature a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery from the Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda.
The Firefly model is a five-seater measuring 4,003 mm in length, 1,781 mm in width, and 1,557 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,615 mm.
The model is powered by a rear-wheel-drive motor from Nio’s motor subsidiary, XPT, which delivers a peak power of 105 kW and enables a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour.
Firefly was officially launched in late December by the group’s founder and CEO, William Li. However, the pricing and the interior of the fully electric model are still unknown.
The European launch event is in planning, with no official date confirmed.
Pre-Orders Exceed Expectations
Daniel Jin Ge, head of Nio’s newly launched sub-brand Firefly, revealed that pre-orders for its compact EV have exceeded the company’s expectations, with the majority placed on the night of its launch on December 21.
The final price is still unknown, and the first deliveries are planned to start in China in late April.
“Regarding orders, while we don’t disclose exact figures, the number of registered users on the app, the [WeChat] mini-program, and orders placed has exceeded expectations. The highest number of orders came on the launch night, accounting for 50% of the total so far,” Daniel stated.
In late January, the company teased the interior reveal on Instagram. “Designed to surprise. what’s inside? you’ll find out soon…”
Two Firefly vehicles were recently spotted in Sweden, partially covered in camouflage tape, as the company continues roadtesting the compact model across Europe. While deliveries in China are expected to start in late April, the launch in the old continent is being planned for the second quarter of the year .
Opposite to the strategy of the group’s main brand, the compact model from Firefly will be sold via a distribution partner established in each country.