Tesla rival Nio to launch in five more European countries after Norway

Chinese EV company Nio will start sales in five more European countries in 2021 following its launch in Norway this year.

The automaker will begin deliveries of its ES8 large SUV in Norway in September and will install a network of city center stores, charging stations, service centers and battery swap stations in the country.

Nio chose Norway to as its first European market  because of the country’s commitment to sustainability, Nio founder William Li said in an online presentation on Thursday.

"The decision was backed by long-term thinking. Norway is the most EV friendly country," he said.

In a separate event, Li told journalists in China that the automaker will launch sales in five more European countries.

The ES8 has a range of between 400 km to 500 km (248 miles to 311 miles) on the WLTP cycle depending on model, Nio said.

No price was given for the car, but Nio is aiming at the premium market.

The brand's second model will the ET7 large sedan arriving in 2022. The ET7, a rival for the Tesla Model S, was launched in in January in China with a promised range of 1,000 km between charges.

Nio will build four battery swap stations around the Norwegian capital of Oslo this year, with 12 more planned in other cities next year. The swaps are done in three minutes as a quicker alternative to charging.

In March, Nio said it had completed 2 million battery swaps in China for customers. Nio will also build a rapid charge network in Norway, it said.

Nio will follow Tesla's direct sales model in which customers buy the car online.

It will also build multi-use showrooms in city centers called Nio House, with the first coming to Oslo this year. The 2,150 square meter space will have a cafe, lounge seating, children's play area and conference rooms.

The automaker describes the Nio House as "a special meeting place for Nio users and fans of the brand."

Four more are planned in Norway next year.

Servicing and new-car delivery will be carried out by Nio-branded centers. The first five will be established this year, Nio said. The company will also offer a pick-up and delivery service as well as mobile servicing.

Norway has become the preferred country for Chinese EV makers to trial European sales due to its high EV take-up. Last year Xpeng began deliveries of its G3 SUV. China's SAIC also sells its electric MG range in Norway.

Full-electric cars accounted for 55 percent of Norway's new-car sales in April, according to data from Norway's OFV road transportation agency. The VW ID4 electric SUV was the country's best-selling vehicle overall in April.

Nio sold 7,102 vehicles in China in April, taking its cumulative total since it began deliveries in 2018 to 102,803, company data shows.