Nio delivers first European-made battery swap station to Germany

Chinese electric automaker Nio has announced the delivery of its first European-made “Power Swap” station to Germany.

This is the first battery swap station to be made at Nio’s Power Europe Facility in Hungary, Nio’s first overseas plant which will be the centre for the company’s manufacturing, service, and research and development in Europe.

Nio has made a name for itself as not only a burgeoning Chinese electric car maker, but also for its battery-as-a-subscription (BaaS) model and its battery swap stations.

The company has begun slowly rolling out battery swap stations around Europe. After announcing in May of 2021 that it would expand into Europe, Nio then quickly installed the first battery swap station in November of 2021, and in March of this year began deliveries of its flagship electric sedan, the ET7.

The second Norwegian battery swap station was opened in August, with plans to begin deploying battery swap stations in Germany soon thereafter.

At the same time, Nio announced that the first deliveries of its ET7 were setting sail from China for order and delivery in Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

It is unclear whether this first European-made battery swap station is Germany’s first, but it is nevertheless only the beginning for Nio, who is aiming to deploy 1,000 Power Swap Stations outside of its home market in China by 2025.

“Nio is one of Chinese leading electric vehicle manufacturers with a global presence,” said Liu Bo, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, who was present at the shipping ceremony.

“The company has research and development centers and production facilities in different countries. I believe that NIO will continue to stimulate innovation, emphasize its independent research and development, and bring the world’s most advanced intelligent manufacturing technology and capabilities into Hungary.”