Nio Expands Global Reach with Entry into Azerbaijan

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio is set to enter Azerbaijan, marking its continued efforts to expand into international markets beyond Europe. Co-founder and President Qin Lihong announced the plan during a visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where he met with local partners and inspected the site of the first Nio House in the country.

“We already have a partner in Azerbaijan for vehicle sales and services, and I’m coming over to meet and sign with it,” Qin stated in a WeChat video, adding that he is optimistic about the brand’s prospects in the region.

Azerbaijan’s strategic position as a transportation hub on the Belt and Road Initiative and its modern infrastructure make it a key market for Nio. “It’s very beautiful, very clean, very modern, and I’m confident about what’s next for Nio vehicles in terms of sales and service in Azerbaijan,” Qin added.

Qin’s visit coincides with the COP29 (29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) event in Baku, where Nio is providing premium mobility services for attendees, utilizing its EL8, ET7, and EL6 models. The EL8 and EL6 are known in China as the ES8 and ES6, respectively.

As part of the event, Qin is scheduled to deliver a keynote address titled Blue Sky Coming: Shaping the Future of Smart EV at the Azerbaijan Pavilion on November 15.

Nio has been actively extending its presence beyond China, with its first overseas Nio House opening in Norway in October 2021. The company has since expanded its footprint to other European markets, including Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

In October 2023, Nio formed Nio MENA, a joint venture with its largest shareholder, Abu Dhabi’s CYVN Holdings, to spearhead its entry into the Middle East and North Africa region. The UAE has been selected as the initial market for this expansion, with a focus on introducing battery swap stations and advanced autonomous driving technologies.

Nio’s foray into Azerbaijan highlights its ambition to tap into diverse international markets and build a global service system, further solidifying its position as a leader in the smart EV sector.