Nio plans to begin construction of a new battery research and development center in Shanghai during the second half of 2026 as the electric vehicle manufacturer strengthens its technology development capabilities.
According to an article published by a WeChat account affiliated with Shanghai’s Jiading district government, the new facility will focus on research and development of next-generation power battery technologies, reinforcing Nio’s strategy of combining vehicle manufacturing in Anhui Province with research operations in Shanghai.
Battery Research Center Planned
The new project will include 31 lithium battery testing laboratories, one lithium-ion battery cell pilot production line, and one battery pack production line once completed.
Jiading has served as Nio’s global research and development headquarters for mass-produced vehicles for more than a decade. The company has established multiple testing centers in the district with a combined floor area exceeding 60,000 square meters.
Earlier this year, the government of Anting Town in Jiading signed a cooperation agreement with Nio to establish the battery research base.
Around the same period, Nio Battery Technology (Shanghai), a wholly owned subsidiary of Nio, was officially registered with a registered capital of 100 million yuan (approximately $14.7 million).
Focus on Solid-State Batteries
According to local media reports citing a company source, the new Shanghai battery subsidiary will concentrate on developing advanced battery technologies, including solid-state batteries that are expected to move toward large-scale commercialization after 2027.
The report also said Nio is collaborating with several companies and research institutions to evaluate multiple solid-state battery technologies, including oxide-based and sulfide-based approaches.
The battery initiative follows changes to Nio’s battery strategy in recent years. In late 2023, the company reportedly explored spinning off its battery manufacturing operations to reduce costs while continuing to retain ownership of core battery research and development.
Alongside its internal research efforts, Nio has continued strengthening partnerships with external suppliers. In January 2026, the company signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with CATL to deepen collaboration on battery technologies.
ES9 Delivery Milestones
The Jiading government article also highlighted the performance of Nio’s flagship ES9 electric sport utility vehicle.
On July 5, deliveries of the ES9 surpassed 1,000 units in Shanghai, making it the first city in China to exceed that milestone for the model.
Previously, on June 26, Nio delivered its 10,000th ES9 nationwide in Hefei, Anhui Province.
According to the company, the ES9 reached 10,000 customer deliveries within 30 days of its market launch, setting a new delivery record in China for a premium battery electric passenger vehicle priced in the 500,000-yuan segment.
Source: CnEVPost