Onvo, a sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio targeting the family car market, will launch its first three-row SUV, the L90, on July 31, according to information obtained by CnEVPost. The launch will follow Li Auto’s unveiling of its Li i8 electric SUV by two days.
Although neither Nio nor Onvo has officially announced the date, Onvo began pre-sales for the L90 on July 10, with customer deliveries expected to begin on August 1. The L90 carries a pre-sale starting price of RMB 279,900 ($39,000) including an 85-kWh battery, or RMB 193,900 with the battery rental plan under Nio’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) offering.
Pricing is expected to decrease further upon the official launch, in line with common pricing strategies within China’s electric vehicle market. The L90 will be offered in both six-seat and seven-seat configurations, with deliveries for the six-seat model scheduled first. The brand is also planning a new model, the L80, for the fourth quarter, which is expected to be a five-seat version of the L90.
Market reaction to the L90’s competitive pricing has been positive. Nio’s share price rose over 5% on Monday to $4.64, bringing gains since the start of L90 pre-sales to 33%.
The timing of Onvo’s launch coincides closely with Li Auto’s entrance into the all-electric SUV segment. Li Auto, a company traditionally focused on extended-range electric vehicles, will officially introduce its Li i8 on July 29. Pre-sales for the Li i8 began on July 17, with an expected price range between RMB 350,000 and RMB 400,000. Deliveries are slated to start in late August.
The Li i8’s anticipated pricing places it roughly 25% above the L90’s pre-sale cost, prompting comparisons on Chinese social media between the two vehicles. The L90 has attracted attention for its pricing, design, and lighter construction, positioning it as a potential challenger in China’s competitive family EV segment.
