Nio is not interested in Audi factory in Brussels; launches Onvo L60

That was quick: barely 24 hours after rumours emerged that Nio could take over the Audi factory in Brussels, the Chinese electric car manufacturer has denied the possibility. Meanwhile, the new Nio sub-brand Onvo is celebrating the market debut of its first vehicle.

According to local media, a Nio delegation recently visited the Audi plant in Brussels, allegedly preparing a purchase offer. However, Nio quickly dispelled this rumour, saying it had no plans to take over the factory. Instead, CEO William Li said the company is generally cautious about investing in tangible assets other than its battery-swapping stations.
He added: “How can Nio afford a factory that Audi can’t afford? (The rumors) are groundless.”

The Volkswagen Group previously decided to stop building cars at the plant in Brussels as soon as production of the Audi Q8 e-tron ends. Since then, nearly 3,000 employees have been concerned about their jobs – and there have already been massive protests.

Nio has meanwhile kicked off deliveries of the new EL8 in Europe. The SUV has been available to order in Germany for three months, starting at 82,900 euros – plus battery hire. The first units were handed over to customers in Germany and the Netherlands.

New sub-brand launches in China

In China, Nio’s new sub-brand Onvo is celebrating its market debut: the first L60 model (see photo above) was presented in May, but the crossover SUV can now be ordered. Deliveries will start on 28 September. Onvo is positioned as a family-friendly brand – and the L60 is set to give Tesla’s Model Y a run for its money.

The single-motor variant with rear-wheel drive has a peak engine output of 240 kW and a maximum torque of 305 Nm and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in 5.9 seconds. The variant with twin-engine all-wheel drive has a combined peak output of 340 kW and a peak torque of 440 Nm and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 4.6 seconds.

The Onvo L60 uses a 900-volt architecture. The standard battery pack has a capacity of 60 kWh and enables a CLTC range of 555 kilometres. The long-distance battery pack has a capacity of 85 kWh and a CLTC range of 730 kilometres. The Onvo L60 starts in China from 206,900 yuan (around 26,000 euros) including battery. Alternatively, the Onvo L60 can also be purchased without a battery for prices starting at 149,900 yuan (around 19,000 euros). Depending on the size of the battery, it can then be rented from 599 yuan (around 75 euros) per month.

Nio hopes to deliver the first 20,000 units of the car this year. Production of 20,000 vehicles per month is planned for the future.

cnevpost.com (Audi factory), cnevpost.com (EL8), cnevpost.com (Onvo L60)