Nio brings first small electric car to Germany: The Firefly scores points
With the Firefly, Nio is bringing a new brand of affordable electric cars to Europe. The small car was unveiled at the IAA in Munich – featuring a clean design, plenty of space, and surprising details for its price range.
The Nio Firefly will launch in Europe in August, and will arrive in Germany in the fall, although there's no official confirmation from Nio yet. The starting price is around €30,000. This makes the model clearly aimed at buyers looking for an affordable, everyday electric car. At just under four meters long, the Firefly is classified as a classic small car.
The Firefly's range is around 330 kilometers according to the WLTP, which is easily sufficient for typical everyday use of a city or commuter car. It is powered by a 42 kWh battery that allows for fast charging at up to 100 kW – a remarkable value in this small car class. This allows for short charging breaks even on longer journeys. The top speed is 150 km/h.
Nio also relies on LED headlights, which are still rare in this vehicle class. Also typical of Nio are the numerous cameras and sensors, which are also being incorporated into the Firefly and enable assistance systems.
The Firefly's interior is minimalist and high-quality. The uncluttered cockpit features clean lines, intuitive controls, and few distractions—"super clean," as Nio describes it. Particularly noteworthy: Despite its compact exterior dimensions, the Firefly offers plenty of space in the back seat.
The small electric car also surprises with its storage space: The trunk has a capacity of 404 liters, plus a 92-liter frunk, a truly unique selling point in this price range. This makes the Firefly not just a city car, but also perfectly suited for weekend trips or small families.
How Nio will fare with the Firefly in Germany remains to be seen. The brand has so far been known here primarily for its high-priced premium models. With the Firefly, Nio is venturing into a significantly more affordable segment and could thus reach new customer groups.
This article appears in cooperation with CHIP ePower
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