Nio launches its quirky Firefly hatchback in Thailand ahead of Australia

Chinese EV maker Nio, which specialises in battery-swappable EVs and has been rapidly expanding globally over the past few years, received approval in August 2025 for its first electric car in Australia, the Nio Firefly.

Now, the company has shared that the right-hand-drive production version of the Firefly has launched in Thailand, hinting at an imminent launch in Australia this year.

This was shared by Chris on X: “Nio launches its all-electric compact car brand, Firefly, in Thailand, accelerating its global market expansion.” 

On top of that, reports are also suggesting that the company plans to build a factory in the country with a capacity of 100,000 EVs, focusing on making cars for right-hand-drive markets like Thailand, Europe and Australia.

As mentioned above, the Firefly has already been approved for sale in Australia, with approval paperwork showing that the hatchback model will have tare weights of 1,467 kg and 1,492 kg and will be driven by a rear-mounted 105 kW motor.

The powertrain is fed by a 42.1 kWh Lithium-Iron-Phosphate (LFP) battery pack, offering a CLTC range of 420 km. That’s expected to be a lot closer to 340 km on the WLTP cycle.

This configuration will help the just over 4-metre-long hatchback be quite an engaging car to drive, as most hatchbacks come in front-wheel-drive configurations.

In December 2024, Nio revealed its third brand, Firefly, to rival Mini, Smart, Renault, and other electric hatchbacks. It was designed to accelerate the company’s expansion into European and international markets.

Then, in June 2025, a lavender-coloured Nio Firefly was spotted with Victorian number plates in Melbourne. That vehicle was likely an evaluation test car used for local ride and handling, as well as advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) calibration.

In November 2025, the company’s CEO, William Li, shared that the first cars for the Singapore market were on their way.

In China, the Firefly starts at the equivalent of $A25,700 and goes up to $A30,000. The Australian pricing is likely to be closer to $A40,000 when it lands in 2026.

For that price, drivers will get a fairly well-equipped electric hatchback, loaded with tech and more space than hatchback rivals, including a surprisingly large frunk.

We look forward to seeing the Nio Firefly on Australian roads in 2026, and with the latest news of the brand’s Thailand market launch and a potential factory for the region, it makes it a fairly promising brand to keep an eye out for.