NIO Day 2024 recap: Firefly’s first EV will compete with MINI and Smart, ET9 launches on a 925V platform
As promised, we are back with a full recap of the debuts during NIO Day 2024, which took place over the weekend. As anticipated, NIO officially launched its new Firefly sub-brand, unveiling its flagship BEV model that looks to take on super compacts like MINI and Smart. Additionally, NIO launched its ultra-luxe ET9 sedan, whose initial trim has already sold out in China.
Last week, we published a little primer ahead of Chinese EV automaker NIO’s annual event. We get plenty of exciting news from NIO throughout the year, but no event is more likely to include landmark announcements than its annual NIO Day event, held every December.
We expected two big debuts at this year’s NIO Day, which took place in Guangzhou, in the Guangdong province of China, on December 21. First was the official launch of NIO’s third EV brand, Firefly, and the first public look at its flagship model.
Additionally, NIO Day 2024 was expected to bring the official launch of the automaker’s latest flagship (and most expensive) model, the ET9, which debuted at last year’s NIO Day. Following the annual event, we can confirm both BEVs have been launched and have much better insight into their pricing, specs, and availability in global markets.
Firefly launches at NIO Day 2024 with a premium small car
As anticipated, NIO officially launched its second sub-brand and third overall BEV brand at NIO Day 2024, which marked the opening of presales of Firefly’s flagship model, which shares the same name. The premium boutique small car arrives in China priced at RMB 148,800 ($20,390), the same as the discounted electric Mini Cooper.
BMW’s MINI brand and Mercedes-Benz’s Smart appear to be clear competitors to the new Firefly brand. NIO founder William Li explained that the new BEV is smaller than a Smart car and smarter than a MINI. Like all NIO models, the Firefly BEV supports battery swaps, hinting that a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) rental purchase program may be offered when the model officially launches.
From its initial announcement, NIO promised that Firefly would deliver affordable EVs to global markets, including Europe. The launch of the model above will begin in China in April 2025, followed by Europe shortly after. Per Li, Firefly will rely on local partner outlets for European sales, starting sometime in the first half of 2025.
In addition to the debut of the Firefly BEV, NIO Day 2024 also marked the official launch of the new ET9 sedan, which appears to be a hit right out of the gate.
NIO ET9 starts at $108k, deliveries to begin in March
While it’s welcomed news, it should be no surprise that the new ET9 sedan launched during NIO Day 2024. The launch presentation included our first look at the ET9 inside and out. Check out that image of the back seat above. Clearly, NIO is targeting the executive market worldwide and taking some cues from Maybach.
German automakers should be sweating a little as NIO appears to be looking to compete against them high and low with Firefly and now the ET9. We’ve confirmed that the ET9 starts at an MSRP of RMB 788,000 ($108,000), including the battery. That’s slightly lower than the RMB 800,000 presale price announced during the model’s unveiling at NIO Day 2023.
That $108k price tag applies to the NIO ET9’s standard trim, but the automaker will also sell a BaaS version that starts at RMB 660,000 ($90,420). Owners pay a monthly battery rental fee of RMB 1,128 ($155).
During the launch at NIO Day 2024, the automaker debuted a limited launch edition trim of the ET9 with a starting price of RMB 818,000 ($112,065), which includes the battery. At the time, NIO said it would only build 999 units of the limited edition ET9, and according to media outlet CnEVPost, all of them had been spoken for in China in less than 24 hours, exceeding sales expectations.
Customers will now have to settle for the super plush Standard trim. How sad. Here are some of the ET9’s specs from NIO Day 2024 at a glance:
- Four-seat sedan with dimensions of 5,325 mm in length, 2,017 mm in width, and 1,621 mm in height. Its wheelbase is 3,250 mm.
- It’s the first model to feature NIO’s in-house designed 5 nm process-based Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip.
- Shenji is equivalent to four mainstream smart driving chips, and the ET9 is equipped with two.
- Includes a SkyRide intelligent chassis system, described as the “world’s first integrated hydraulic fully active suspension.” We saw it in action last summer.
- Steer-by-wire (SBW) technology enables the steering wheel and wheels to be completely decoupled, offering higher levels of intelligent driving.
- 925V platform (better than the 900V architecture initially announced) enables better performance and faster charge rates.
- 100 kWh battery pack that delivers a (CLTC) range of 650 km (404 miles).
- Dual electric motors with a peak power of 180 kW at the front and 340 kW at the rear.
- The powertrain combines for a maximum power output of 520 kW and a peak torque of 700 Nm.
- Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds.
- 105-liter frunk cargo capacity.
Deutsche Bank anticipates NIO’s sales of both the Firely EV and the ET9 sedan to reach 1,500 units per month, setting the stage for another big year of growth in 2025. The automaker concluded NIO Day 2024 by stating that initial deliveries of the ET9 are expected to begin in China in March 2025, starting with the sold-out limited edition mentioned above.
While this will be a new BEV for the global market, NIO has yet to offer a timeline as to when sales and deliveries of the ET9 will begin in Europe. We anticipate sometime in 2025 after deliveries begin in China. Another NIO Day is in the books in 2024 as we look ahead to a big year in 2025!
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Honda announced that it is pausing about $15 billion in planned EV investments to build electric vehicle and battery factories in Canada amid uncertainty over trade.
It’s the latest example of Canada’s backing the US plan backfiring.
A few years ago, Canada sided with the US in its plan to save the US auto industry, which was falling behind the rest of the world in the transition to electric vehicles.
Canada agreed to heavily tariff Chinese EVs to keep them away from the North American market, which mainly helps the US auto manufacturing industry, and in return, Canada’s EV production was included in Biden’s IRA to encourage foreign automakers to invest in EV production in both US and Canada to get access to the US market.
However, when Trump came into power earlier this year, he threw a wrench into this entire plan by canceling IRA funding, planning to kill the EV tax credit, and placing tariffs on many countries, including Canada.
It has resulted in planned investments in the EV sector in Canada to cool down.
Now, one of Canada’s most significant EV investments has been paused.
Honda has announced that it is pausing for two years its plan to establish a massive new EV production base in Canada:
“Due to the recent slowdown of the EV market, Honda Motor has announced an approximate two-year postponement of the comprehensive value chain investment project in Canada. The company will continue to evaluate the timing and project progression as market conditions change.”
The investment was announced just over a year ago. It was supposed to include a new EV factory in Ontario and a battery factory, totaling more than $10 billion in investments.
It was supposed to create over 1,000 jobs in Ontario and help retain the 4,200 jobs at Honda’s current assembly plant in Ontario, which are threatened by the electric transition.
Electrek’s Take
Canada is taking a beating here and all for mostly just protecting the US auto industry.
As I have been saying for a while, at this point, you should just invite the Chinese automakers to join.
You can do a deal à la India, where you remove tariffs for Chinese automakers willing to invest in the EV supply chain in Canada.
There’s no point in protecting the US automakers if the US is purposefully destroying the Canadian auto sector.
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A new company out of Germany called ONOX is bringing sustainable technology to the agriculture industry. After garnering design awards, the ONOX electric tractor prototype is in operation overseas as its makers look to scale and bring its unique modular design, complete with swappable battery packs, to farms everywhere.
It’s been less than two years since ONOX hit the tech scene with a prototype of its flagship electric tractor, which debuted at Agritechnica 2023 in Hanover, Germany. In April of 2024, the German startup’s electric tractor was awarded an iF Design Gold Award.
That same summer, the ONOX1 finalized commissioning before entering an extensive test phase. By December, the startup had snagged another trophy – the Federal Ecodesign Award. This past February, the ONOX electric tractor received road approval in Germany and began operations while the design team continues its mission of making electric agricultural machinery a reality.
The ONOX electric tractor is unique in that it utilizes modular battery swap technology, in which farmers can choose from three different mounting areas (see below).
ONOX’s electric tractor could breathe new life into farming
Since the ONOX electric tractor remains a prototype, many of its specs are targets and estimates, but the initial design is quite impressive. The electric tractor’s motor offers peak power of 70 kW with over 2,400 Nm of torque up front and over 5,500 Nm in the rear. ONOX’s targeted top speed is 40 km/h (~25 mph).
The ONOX tractor features an integrated 20-kWh battery pack and room for additional swappable packs of 30 kWh each. The entire system operates on 48V power, so maintenance is safer and easier for users without further training since there is no risk of exposure to high-voltage components.
The ONOX design team has also integrated an Airline system with mounting rails on the tractor’s hood, enabling future owners to mount cargo, haul hay or produce, or customize the area with other parts. The front of the tractor is also front-loader-ready, adding to its modularity and versatility.
The ONOX website says the electric tractor is self-sufficient using its own solar energy, but from the specs and images we’ve seen, there is no evidence of any solar technology implemented on the current prototype. Perhaps they mean the swappable batteries can be charged using solar when not installed on the tractor.
We will monitor ONOX’s progress as electric tractor development continues en route to commercial sales.
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Toyota upgraded its electric SUV in just about every way possible. The 2026 Toyota bZ is refined from end to end with a fresh new style, more driving range, advanced new tech, and much more. It even has an NACS port, so you can charge at Tesla Superchargers. Here’s our first look at Toyota’s new EV.
Meet the 2026 Toyota bZ electric SUV
Remember the bZ4X? It’s currently the only EV Toyota sells in North America. It’s now called the “bZ,” and it’s better than ever.
The 2026 Toyota bZ has an estimated driving range of 314 miles, a 25% improvement over the outgoing bZ4X. It also has a built-in NACS charging port, unlocking access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network across North America.
Toyota said the upgraded EV can charge from 10% to 80% “under ideal conditions” when using DC fast charging. With added Plug & Charge capabilities, charging has never been easier.
The AWD models now have up to 338 hp, a 50% improvement thanks to new SIC semiconductors. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) models deliver 221 hp, up from 201 HP in the 2025 bZ4X.
Other upgrades, including battery pre-conditioning and a thermal management system, help optimize charging speeds in cold weather.
Battery options and driving range
The 2026 Toyota bZ will have two battery options: 57.7 kWh and 74.7 kWh. Toyota estimates that the larger (74.7 kWh) battery will provide up to 314 miles of range, while the smaller (57.7 kWh) option will get up to 236 miles.
Toyota upgraded the electric SUV inside and out. The exterior features Toyota’s new “hammerhead front end,” which is shown on updated vehicles like the Camry and Crown. The new styling includes redesigned front overfenders and slim LED daytime running lights.
The interior received a few upgrades, including a redesigned center console. The setup now includes a larger 14″ Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, two wireless phone chargers, and a slimmed-down dashboard.
Standard features include a 7″ driver display screen, heated front and rear seats, regenerative braking, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, and more.
Upgrading to the Limited trim will gain you 20″ black alloy wheels, multi-LED headlights, SofTex®-trimmed seats, ventilated front seating, and added safety/ driver assist features. Other options include a panoramic moonroof with power sunshade (XLE) and a premium 9-speaker JBL Audio system (Limited).
.
| 2026 Toyota bZ trim | Battery | Range (Manufacturer estimated) |
| XLE FWD | 57.7 kWh | 236 miles |
| XLE FWD Plus | 74.7 kWh | 314 miles |
| XLE AWD | 74.7 kWh | 288 miles |
| Limited FWD | 74.7 kWh | 299 miles |
| Limited AWD | 74.7 kWh | 278 miles |
According to Toyota, the new name will help simplify things for buyers. We suspect it’s also designed to revamp the brand’s sole EV after a slow (to say it nicely) rollout in North America. The bZ4X was recalled shortly after launch over concerns that the wheels may fall off.
The 2026 Toyota bZ is expected to arrive at dealerships in the second half of 2025. Check back for more info as prices will be revealed soon.
With the upgraded 2026 model arriving, Toyota is offering close-out prices on the 2024 and 2025 bZ4X. The 2024 bZ4X is listed with up to $19,000 in lease cash, while 2025 models can be leased for as low as $269 per month. You can use our link to find deals on the 2024 and 2025 Toyota bZ4X in your area today.
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