NIO is a global start-up based in China, designing and developing high-performance, premium electric, autonomous vehicles. NIO has R&D and design experts from around the world with significant technology and management background from leading automobile and high tech companies, with more than 4,000 employees in its 19 locations.[citation needed] The company is also involved in the FIA Formula E Championship, the world’s first single-seater, all-electric racing series. The name for the company in China is Weilai.
History
NIO was founded by the Chairman of Bitauto and NextEV, William Li. After launch, several companies went in to invest, these including Tencent, Temasek, Baidu, Sequoia, Lenovo, TPG and other world-renowned investment institutions. Its track car the NIO EP9 was debuted the same day the brand was established.
NIO was launched with the intention from William Li to lead the way with autonomous, electric-powered, and smart vehicles, and to make their owners feel positive about owning their products. They also want to redefine what premium service means for a car company.[1]
In October 2016 NIO announced that it was issued an Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit by the California DMV and it would begin testing on public roads under the Autonomous Vehicle Tester Program guidelines as it progresses on its path to bring autonomy to market.
Vehicles
Production vehicles
NIO EP9
The NIO EP9 is a track-only, electric-powered, mid-engined two-seater supercar manufactured by NIO and their Formula E counterpart. It debuted in the Saatchi Gallery in London, England.[3] The car is powered by four electric motors each delivering 335.25 hp (250 kW; 340 PS) for a total of 1,341 hp (1,000 kW; 1,360 PS), and all four are driven by four independent transmissions, therefore making the car all-wheel drive.
The six EP9s were produced for NIO’s investors. In April 2017, NIO announced it would produce 10 extra EP9s for pre-order to the public for $1.48M.
NIO ES8
The NIO ES8 is an all-new SUV by NIO that is planned to be put into production in 2018 for the China Market.[4] NIO had been testing the vehicle for thousands of miles in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia.
The ES8 is a 7-seater full-size production car, with a wheelbase of 2,997 mm (118 in) and a body length of 4,978 mm (196 in). The body and chassis are going to be completely aluminum, and the drivetrain will be all-wheel drive standard, and also featuring active air suspension. The design will include the X-bar[clarification needed] and NIO’s signature “Spark Beat”[clarification needed] taillights. The ES8 will be powered by a battery, and will be swappable.
ES8 was launched on the Chinese market in December 2017.
Concept vehicles
The NIO EVE is a concept car unveiled in SXSW 2017. The concept car is designed as an autonomous vehicle, but can be manually driven. NIO says the car will be in production by 2020.
Technologies
NOMI
NIO currently participates in the Formula E championship with their counterpart NIO Formula E, and races their cars with their test drivers, Luca Filippi, and Oliver Turvey. From the inaugural season of the series to present, NextEV has not won a Constructors’ Championship yet and has yet to win one, but has won a Drivers’ Championship, and two races, the 2015 Long Beach ePrix and the 2015 Moscow ePrix, both races from the 2014–2015 Formula E season.
Motorsport
NIO currently participates in the Formula E championship with their counterpart NIO Formula E, and races their cars with their test drivers, Luca Filippi, and Oliver Turvey. From the inaugural season of the series to present, NextEV has not won a Constructors’ Championship yet and has yet to win one, but has won a Drivers’ Championship, and two races, the 2015 Long Beach ePrix and the 2015 Moscow ePrix, both races from the 2014–2015 Formula E season.
NextEV – Nio EP9
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