Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said it will delay the European launch of its Firefly brand to the third quarter of 2025, pushing back from an earlier target set for the first half of the year due to unexpected hurdles in building out its sales and service infrastructure.
The Firefly brand, introduced in December, is aimed at competing with smaller premium electric models such as Mercedes-Benz’s Smart and BMW’s Mini.
See also: Nio Targets 10% Sales Contribution from Firefly Brand Over Time
Nio had initially planned to bring the brand to European markets in the first half of 2025 but has since revised the timeline.
The company attributed the delay to slower-than-anticipated progress in expanding its operational network in Europe. It is now focusing on forming additional partnerships with local firms to accelerate its market presence, with announcements expected during the Shanghai auto show.
See also: Nio Officially Launches Firefly EV with RMB 119,800 Starting Price and April 29 Delivery Date
Firefly is intended to support Nio’s broader ambitions in Europe, but its launch comes at a time of increasing regulatory scrutiny.
The European Commission imposed tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in late 2024, complicating efforts by Chinese automakers to scale operations in the region.
