Here is some information we found out about the various new brands that been released to the Australian market in the last year or two. Information is as factual as we could find since the source material, due to the language barrier and the problem of getting real feedback from the country of origin. This week it is all about the NIO brand aka a JAC Group sub-brand.
NIO as a brand gained publicity via listing as a public company on the New York Stock exchange in 2018.
NIO does not have a notable brand image to the public except via curated 3rd party providers.
NIO is a Chinese company setup by the Government owned JAC Group designed specifically to court foreign investors.
NIO makes electric cars but not very many.
NIO aims to hold outside shareholder interest by offering a battery changing system rather than charging.
NIO follows a different path to other Chinese brands that seem to just want to build as many as possible under their own brand. NIO seems more interested in making vehicles for other brands.
NIO follows the Tesla model structure and designs.
NIO is a bit of a ‘test the market’ brand with its Battery as a service model. Unfortunately it is beginning to look a bit like a financial circus due to just as high pricing and the lack of any significant battery as a service points. It follows the Tesla path but clearly shows the lack of direction innovation etc.. that is needed to survive. It’s forgettable given the competition and one for those taken in by a glossy financial brochure.
*Due to revelations on practices of other Chinese brands legal and corporate practices we will not be posting any further comparisons or reviews on these vehicles or products and certainly nothing vaguely critical. You are on your own folks.