Nio is actively hiring senior personnel in China to bolster its Middle East team, with vehicle deliveries in the region anticipated to commence later this year. According to a report by local media outlet 21jingji, the Shanghai-based electric vehicle manufacturer has begun recruiting for positions at the senior director level and above, including assistant vice president (AVP) roles.
The company is seeking talent in various domains, including vehicle manufacturing, core electrical systems, smart cockpit technology, and smart driving solutions. Sources indicate that while Nio is offering salaries comparable to those of a Level 5 employee in China, the responsibilities in the Middle East are expected to be less extensive.
Recruiting qualified candidates has proven challenging, as applicants must be willing to work overseas for extended periods. A source close to Nio’s Middle East operations emphasized the difficulty of this recruitment process.
In response to inquiries, Nio confirmed that its Middle East North Africa (MENA) team and local UAE operations are already established and in a phase of expansion. On October 5, Nio officially announced the formation of Nio MENA in collaboration with its Middle Eastern partner, Abu Dhabi-based CYVN Holdings, marking the company’s entry into the MENA market.
The UAE has been designated as the initial market for Nio MENA, with plans to establish a research and development center in Abu Dhabi focused on autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, Nio and CYVN intend to co-develop a new vehicle model tailored for the local market.
William Li, founder, chairman, and CEO of Nio, stated that the company aims to begin deliveries in the UAE during the fourth quarter of this year, offering a full suite of services to customers in the MENA region from the UAE. The latest recruitment efforts are for positions at the Abu Dhabi R&D center.
Regarding the new model, Nio will oversee product definition and innovation, along with adapting the hardware and software to meet the needs of its Middle Eastern partner, as per insights from knowledgeable sources.
The Nio ES8, which will be marketed locally as the EL8, is currently available for booking in the UAE, starting at 359,900 UAE dirhams ($97,980). In comparison, the ES8 starts at RMB 498,000 ($69,990) in China, inclusive of the battery. Additionally, the first Nio House in Abu Dhabi is set to officially open in November, coinciding with the commencement of vehicle deliveries in the fourth quarter.
