NIO teases ET9 images and its FireFly brand logo ahead of launches at NIO Day 2024
We are just days away from Chinese EV automaker NIO’s annual NIO Day event, which has already promised some big reveals, including the long-teased ET9 and the first model under its new FireFly sub-brand. As an appetizer, NIO has shared the first un-camouflaged images of the ET9 and its official FireFly logo.
NIO remains a mainstay on Electrek‘s homepage because it always seems to be announcing something new and interesting. With its main marque well established and expanding globally, we’ve been following NIO’s rollout of two new sub-brands called Onvo and FireFly, the last twelve months especially.
While we get plenty of exciting news from the Chinese automaker throughout the annual calendar, no event is more likely to include landmark announcements than its annual NIO Day event, held every December. In the past, we’ve seen NIO unveil flagship sedans like the ET7, followed by the debut of the ET5 sedan a year later. NIO also shared plans to expand to new global markets by 2025.
The 2022 event included unveiling NIO’s ES8 and EC7 SUVs, pushing the automaker’s lineup to eight available EVs. For 2023, we learned NIO would unveil a new flagship model we speculated would be the ultra-luxe ET9.
That would be true. The ET9 debuted at a pre-sale price of RMB 800,000 ($109,810) – NIO’s most expensive model to date. It sits atop a 900V platform complete with an upgradeable wire-controlled chassis. It’s been nearly a year, however, and since then, we’ve only gotten camouflaged peeks at the NIO ET9 and its capabilities.
With a promise to officially launch the new ET9 at NIO Day later this week, the automaker has posted several images for the public as well as an official look at the logo that will be donned by its new line of affordable FireFly EVs.
NIO offers a clear look at ET9 before unveiling this week
Before we get all the juicy details about the ET9 and NIO’s plans for 2025 and beyond, the automaker offered its best look at its next flagship model yet. NIO posted several images (seen above) to its Weibo page with the following caption:
The high-tech executive flagship NIO ET9 will be officially launched on December 21st, NIO Day 2024. The original ‘flying body design’ creates a powerful aura of an epoch-making executive flagship with the flagship size. Elegant posture, presented with exquisite details. The debut is to lead innovation.
Following the upcoming launch, NIO expects ET9 deliveries to begin in China in Q1 of 2025. In addition to the sedan’s unique intelligent chassis system, the ET9 will be the first model equipped with NIO’s own 5 NM process-based “Shenji” autonomous driving chip, evolving from its current NT 2.0 platform that utilizes four NVIDIA Orin chips.
We will have to wait until this weekend to learn where ET9 pricing officially lands and how close that figure is to the presale price. In addition to the launch of the ET9, NIO has also promised to launch its new FireFly sub-brand and unveil its first model.
To date, we’ve only seen a camo’d image of the EV’s side profile, which appears to be a family-friendly compact, but we are certain to get a full look in a couple of days. Previously, NIO co-founder and president Qin Lihong has said that Firefly EV models will be priced between RMB 100,000 ($13,800) and RMB 200,000 ($27,500).
Furthermore, FireFly will join NIO’s Onvo brand on sale in China before expanding to Europe in 2025. During a recent interview with local media outlet 36kr, Firefly president Daniel Jinsaid the brand’s first model will be launched in China in the first half of 2025, followed by a launch in Europe likely a quarter later. We know the flagship model will share the same name as the FireFly brand itself, but not much else at this point.
Ahead of FireFly’s debut at NIO Day 2024, the automaker launched the sub-brand’s official app, which showcased its brand logo you can see below.:
NIO Day 2024 is scheduled for this Saturday, December 21, in Guangzhou, in the Guangdong province of China. Trust we will follow up with a full recap as we learn more.
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Pennsylvania just opened its first federally funded EV charging station on the Pennsylvania Turnpike — a key step toward making long-distance EV travel easier across the state.
The new station just opened at the Blue Mountain Service Plaza at Exit 202 westbound. Another NEVI-funded site at the New Stanton Service Plaza (Exit 77 westbound) is expected to open next week, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
The chargers were built using funds from the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which is designed to install fast, reliable charging stations where drivers already stop — especially along busy highway corridors.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is one of the state’s most heavily traveled roads, particularly during holiday travel, making service plazas a natural location for en-route EV charging. This first Turnpike site marks the beginning of NEVI-funded charging directly on the state’s toll road.
The Blue Mountain and New Stanton locations are part of the Turnpike’s larger, systemwide EV charging rollout. Working with Applegreen Electric, the Turnpike plans to install 80 new universal EV charging stations across all 17 service plazas by the end of 2027.
In addition to the NEVI-funded sites, the Turnpike has already brought new chargers online at the North Somerset, South Somerset, and Hickory Run service plazas using funding from Pennsylvania’s Driving PA Forward program. Each location offers high-speed charging with four ports per site, and all chargers are designed to work with all EV models without the need for adapters.
The project was awarded under the first round of PennDOT’s NEVI Alternative Fuel Corridor program. The next phase of funding, known as Corridor Connections, is focused on filling in charging gaps along major roadways that fall outside previously designated alternative fuel corridors. The goal is to make longer EV trips across Pennsylvania easier and more predictable.
The announcement also comes as Pennsylvania continues to push back against federal attempts to block EV funding. The US Department of Transportation is currently withholding congressionally approved money that would have supported EV infrastructure projects and jobs in the state. Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) sued the Trump administration over the move and, alongside 15 other states, successfully challenged an earlier attempt to derail the NEVI program. That legal fight helped keep projects like these Turnpike charging stations moving forward across the Commonwealth.
Electrek’s Take
This is precisely what the Biden administration’s NEVI program was meant to do: put fast, reliable charging stations where drivers already stop. Service plazas on major turnpikes are prime real estate for EV charging, particularly during holiday and long-distance travel. Pennsylvania’s rollout is still early days, but once chargers are live at all 17 plazas – assuming the federal funding spigot stays open – one of the Northeast’s busiest corridors is going to be a great place to road-trip in an EV.
Read more: PA Turnpike to add 80 new Applegreen DC fast chargers by 2027
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![Kia's sporty new electric SUV spotted ahead of its big debut [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Kia-sporty-midsize-electric-SUV.jpeg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia is set to unveil several new electric GT models at the Brussels Motor Show, including the EV3, EV4, and EV5. With its debut less than a month away, Kia’s sporty midsize electric SUV was spotted on the road, offering our closest look at it yet.
The Kia EV5 GT will debut at the Brussels Motor Show
The EV5 is already a pretty sleek-looking SUV with a boxy, upright design like Kia’s three-row EV9, but in a smaller package.
At the Brussels Motor Show next month, Kia will unveil the EV5 GT, a sportier, more powerful version of the midsize electric SUV.
Kia has yet to say when or where it will launch, but like the standard model, the GT variant is expected to arrive in Europe, the UK, Korea, and Canada sometime in 2026. It will follow the EV6 GT and EV9 GT as Kia expands its performance EV lineup.
Although it was widely expected to share underpinnings with the new EV6 GT, that apparently won’t be the case.
According to Auto Express, the EV5 GT will instead be equipped with a separate dual-motor powertrain, packing 302 hp and 480 Nm of torque, good for a 0 to 62 mph time of 6.2 seconds.
Official range and other final specs will be revealed at the event, but the GT version will use the same 81.4 kWh battery as the standard EV5 Long Range model, which should provide a WLTP driving range of at least 300 miles.
Kia said all future electric GT vehicles will wear its new “GT Wrap” featuring its signature neon green. The bold color has become a “symbol of electricity,” the company said. It will also be available in a matte Magma Red.
It’s about the size of Kia’s best-selling model, the Sportage, at 4,610 mm (181″) long, 1,875 mm (74″) wide, and 1,675 mm (66″) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.
Thanks to its dedicated electric vehicle (E-GMP) platform, the EV5 offers noticeably more interior space with “best-in-class” interior rear legroom of 1,041 mm (41″). Kia also packed it with its latest software, features, and infotainment system.
The interior features nearly 30″ of screen space with Kia’s new connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment system, including dual 12.3″ driver and navigation screens, plus a 5″ climate control display.
A video from our friends at Shortscar shows the EV5 GT driving in South Korea ahead of its upcoming debut. Although it’s still disguised, you can see the GT version has bigger wheels and updated front and rear bumpers.
The EV5 GT will debut at the Brussels Motor Show next month alongside the EV3 GT and EV4 GT. Kia will also unveil its new entry-level EV, the EV2. The event runs from January 9 through January 18, 2026. Hyundai is showcasing new EVs, including “its biggest EV” yet, which it previewed in a teaser image on Monday.
For those in the US, Kia is (sadly) not planning to launch the standard EV5 or GT version. After opening orders earlier this month, Kia said the midsize electric SUV would be exclusive to Canada in North America.
If you’re looking for a new EV, we can still help you find the right one. Kia is currently offering over $10,000 off every EV in its US lineup through its New Traditions sales event. You can use the links below to see what’s available in your area.
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