NIO is following the successful launch of its ES8 electric SUV with a smaller and less expensive new model: the ES6 electric SUV.
The Chinese EV startup is rapidly becoming an important electric automaker in the country.
Yesterday, it confirmed having delivered almost 10,000 ES8 SUVs since the launch earlier this year.
They didn’t waste any time to launch a second model.
At the company’s annual “NIO Day” 2018 at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, NIO unveiled the ES6.
They described the SUV in a press release:
“The ES6 high-performance long-range intelligent electric SUV hit the market during the evening product launch. With a high-strength aluminum & carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) hybrid structure, the ES6 features 4.7 second 0-100 km/h acceleration, a NEDC range of over 510 km, and 33.9-meter braking distance from 100-0 km/h. The ES6 expands the design language of the NIO product line with a stylish and sporty exterior plus a refined, high-tech interior.”
NIO says that the ES6 is offered in the Standard and Performance Versions with starting prices of 358,000 and 398,000 yuan, which is the equivalent of ~$52,000 and $58,000 USD respectively.
The starting price is about $14,000 less expensive than the flagship ES8.
William Li, NIO Founder, Chairman and CEO, said about the launch of the vehicle:
“We are committed to redefining the user experience and creating a community centered around our users, enjoying life and growing together. The ES6 launch and the NIO Day have set another NIO community milestone,”
Customers can place an order for the ES6 right now and expect deliveries to start in June 2019.
In order to support its growing fleet, NIO is also expanding its EV infrastructure.
Last month, we reported on NIO deploying 18 battery swap stations covering 2,000+ km of expressway and the company says that it has now “26 NIO Houses and experience stores”.
They plan to double that number by the end of next year and significantly increase its service network:
“NIO will build a nationwide service network with over 160 service outlets across China. That number is expected to increase to over 300 in 2019, further enhancing NIO’s service capabilities.”
