Nio Firefly EV launched in Thailand; Will it come to Malaysia?

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese EV maker Nio has introduced its premium small electric car brand named ‘Firefly’ in Thailand. The right-hand drive version of the Firefly EV made its official Thai debut at the ongoing Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS). 

Notably, Thailand is Southeast Asia's second-largest RHD market to receive the Firefly EV following its launch in Singapore.

Firefly EV: Key highlights

• Bearing the same name as the brand, the Firefly EV is a compact electric vehicle that measures 4003 mm in length, 1781 mm in width, and 1557 mm in height, and spans a wheelbase of 2615 mm.
• The EV comes with a 92-litre front trunk and a rear boot space of 335 litres, which is expandable up to 1253 litres.

• Powering the Firefly is a rear-wheel-drive motor, generating a maximum power of 141 hp and a peak torque of 200 Nm. It is paired with a 42.1 kWh LFP battery, which offers an estimated driving range of approx 330 km (on the WLTP cycle). 
• In terms of performance, the EV runs from zero to 100 kmph in 8.1 seconds and attains a top speed of 150 kmph.
• It supports fast charging up to 100 kW, replenishing 10% to 80% battery in 30 minutes. 

• Design-wise, the EV looks unique and playful with its “trio light” signature, paired with a clean, closed front grille. It boasts compact proportions with short overhangs, a long wheelbase, and an aerodynamic roofline. Inside, there is a minimal dashboard layout housing a large infotainment screen with a clean user interface.
• The feature-packed EV comes with equipped with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof with UV filtering, a 6-inch LCD instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch central unit, a 14-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system, 256-colour ambient lighting, powered front seats with massage and cooling functions, automatic air-conditioning with PM2.5 dust filter, digital rear-view mirror, a wireless charging pad, and Vehicle-to-Load functionality. 

• As for safety, it features seven airbags and L2 level assisted driving systems.

Firefly EV: price 

Available in a single imported variant from China, the Firefly EV is priced at THB 799,000 (RM 97k) in Thailand. Included in the price is a four-year/100,000-km vehicle warranty and an eight-year/160,000-km battery warranty.

Daniel Jin, Senior Vice President of NIO and President of Firefly, said, “Guided by NIO's vision of 'Blue Sky Coming,” and backed by a decade of R&D and manufacturing expertise, Firefly is committed to ushering high-end small cars into the smart EV era with a bold new concept and exceptional user experience.”

As for Firefly’s chances of a Malaysian debut, it is unlikely to arrive anytime soon due to high import and excise duties that would make it too expensive, unless Nio decides to assemble EVs locally. 

Source: CarNewsChina

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