Nio's William Li Visits Europe as EV Maker Expands Overseas
William Li, founder, chairman, and CEO of Nio Inc. (NYSE: NIO), is visiting Europe as the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer continues to strengthen its international presence. Joining him on the trip are Firefly president Daniel Jin and Nio CFO Stanley Qu, who also leads Nio Power.
"I'm in Europe on business these days and am now preparing to drive Firefly from Amsterdam to Oslo — a journey of about four hours," Li shared on Weibo. "Firefly is such a pleasure to drive that everyone wants to be the driver — I snagged the wheel first."
Li also posted two photos: one featuring Daniel Jin and Stanley Qu seated in the back seat of the Firefly.
Firefly’s Entry into the European Market
Firefly officially debuted in Europe in August, with its first deliveries starting on August 14 in Norway and the Netherlands. The premium compact car brand, introduced during Nio Day 2024 on December 21, 2024, aims to compete with established small-car brands like Mini and Smart.
Launch Strategy and Market Performance
Although Nio initially intended to launch Firefly in Europe first, the company opted for a China-first strategy due to increased European tariffs on Chinese EVs. The Firefly’s first model hit the Chinese market on April 19.
In October, Nio reported record deliveries of 40,397 vehicles, with Firefly accounting for 5,912 units — marking the third consecutive month of record sales.
Author’s summary: William Li’s European trip highlights Nio’s push to grow its Firefly brand overseas, as strong sales reinforce its global expansion momentum.