NIO plans to launch the shooting brake version of its ET5 electric sedan in Europe in June or July of this year, according to co-founder and president Qin Lihong.
The model has been specifically developed for European consumers and is aimed at tapping into the large market for this style of vehicle in the region.
“Sedan derivatives are a niche market in China, but the opposite is true in Europe. We don’t see many real sedans in Europe,” he said.
The ET5, the most affordable option in NIO’s lineup, has a starting price of RMB 328,000 ($48,500). It was the 7th best-selling high-end sedan in China with a starting price over RMB 300,000 in December, selling 7,594 units, as reported by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on January 11th.
It is noteworthy that prior to the official announcement, photos and videos of a suspected NIO ET5 shooting brake had surfaced on Chinese social media.
On November 23rd, 2022, a video of a vehicle believed to be the ET5 shooting brake was shared in a WeChat group. The camouflage on the vehicle in the video matched that of other NIO models and featured LiDAR and camera equipment consistent with the company’s NT 2.0 platform.
Two days later, a car blogger shared spy shots on a community website, claiming they were of the ET5 shooting brake. The blogger noted that the vehicle had a small SUV-like design and hinted at the potential for new surprises in the interior.
While the shooting brake market is considered niche in China, the recent success of the Zeekr 001, Geely’s first model under their new brand, has led to an increase in popularity for such models.
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