Discussion
This might be one of the first of the new generation of Chinese EVs to make it to North American and European markets.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nio/es8/105145/new-n...
It's utterly hideous, but you can't argue with the tech, and the quality looks like it's good enough. I think it's a bit pricey at £50k equivalent, but it certainly beats the Model X on price!
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nio/es8/105145/new-n...
It's utterly hideous, but you can't argue with the tech, and the quality looks like it's good enough. I think it's a bit pricey at £50k equivalent, but it certainly beats the Model X on price!
I don't think it is particularly hideous, especially compared to gopping horrors like the Merc GLE and Porsche Cayenne. It isn't as though the Model X is much of a looker either.
Nio seem to have been quite careful to promote a sense of engineering competence with the EP9 and Formula E campaign.
Nio seem to have been quite careful to promote a sense of engineering competence with the EP9 and Formula E campaign.
Yes, I think that's what gives Nio a bit more credibility than, say, Byton. Byton have a nice looking car, but these guys have actually built racing cars and built products. Hopefully this will be around £45k in the UK after grants. I think it'll need to be materially cheaper than the I Pace and E-Tron, even though it's a size class bigger.
Edited by Witchfinder on Sunday 22 December 08:20
Witchfinder said:
What interest?
Shhhh but I work for them! 
I have been in them in China and now have a couple of them in the UK awaiting approval for UK road use. I've driven one on private grounds in the UK too.
I hope I'm still objective enough to say the car is very impressive!
Once they're UK road legal, I should bring one out to play. Sadly, the DVLA are a bit, er, slow!
As I said, interesting times!!
Rob
Witchfinder said:
Interesting. I suppose you're not allowed to speculate on a likely price point. I think that's what will make or break it. I'm also not convinced by the weird face on the dashboard...
Currently we only sell cars in China, but NIO moves quickly and things change rapidly.In China, which I appreciate is very different, it retails at almost exactly 50% of a Model X.
As for NOMI (the smiley face), I quite like it, and I'm not usually a fan of such things. Sadly, there is only a Mandarin version at this time, but that will presumably change. I've seen it working with those who can speak Mandarin, and it is amazing to the point of being the future, I think. It reduces having to touch switches, one of my favourites being to ask it to open the sunroof or window!!
There are some other really clever features - worth having a search if you're interested!
Cheers
Rob
I get the whole voice assistant thing, and buy into it fully. I don't think it needs a cutesy face to distract the driver. I think it'll polarise buyers and limit the market. But I guess Nio have done their market research.
The price sounds promising, especially if it broadly matches the model x on space, range performance, and technology.
The price sounds promising, especially if it broadly matches the model x on space, range performance, and technology.
Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 6th November 18:55
dukeboy749r said:
With that level of fit and finish, and the innovation of swappable battery packs - you'd have to figure they will be 'up there' alongside the German companies only just releasing pure EVs
Good for them
There's a chunk of German engineering in the ES8, but the Chinese OEMs aren't messing around when it comes to EVs.Good for them
Witchfinder said:
I get the whole voice assistant thing, and buy into it fully. I don't think it needs a cutesy face to distract the driver. I think it'll polarise buyers and limit the market. But I guess Nio have done their market research.
The price sounds promising, especially if it broadly matches the model x on space, range performance, and technology.
The current set-up is for China and they seem to love it. I guess it's a cultural thing. I don't know what they will do if/when they look to other countries.The price sounds promising, especially if it broadly matches the model x on space, range performance, and technology.
Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 6th November 18:55
As for the "German" engineering, it's a global car and there's a large part of UK engineering in the vehicle.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding - I'll borrow one to show interested parties when I can if there's interest.
The industry is changing!
Rob
Robscim said:
The current set-up is for China and they seem to love it. I guess it's a cultural thing. I don't know what they will do if/when they look to other countries.
Yes, that's my point. It puts me off what otherwise looks like a very competent car (despite some glossy/cheap looking switches and surfaces). Robscim said:
The industry is changing!
If there's a staid, sluggish and overly traditional industry that's ripe for disruption, it's the motor industry. Tesla have done it already, and the likes of Google and Apple are eyeing it greedily. Nio and Byton are doing a great job, and can be agile because they're not hobbled by decades of investment in old tech, outdated dealer networks and rigid thinking.Edited by Witchfinder on Tuesday 6th November 22:31
It looks rather good.
Not sure of the benefit to being able to swap the batteries out unless you happen to be lucky and they build a service station exactly where you need it to be.
But if most major motorway services allow you to drive in, be handed a coffee and drive off quicker, cleaner dryer and warmer than having to add your own petrol then it’s potentially very interesting.
Not sure of the benefit to being able to swap the batteries out unless you happen to be lucky and they build a service station exactly where you need it to be.
But if most major motorway services allow you to drive in, be handed a coffee and drive off quicker, cleaner dryer and warmer than having to add your own petrol then it’s potentially very interesting.
Robscim said:
The current set-up is for China and they seem to love it. I guess it's a cultural thing. I don't know what they will do if/when they look to other countries.
As for the "German" engineering, it's a global car and there's a large part of UK engineering in the vehicle.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding - I'll borrow one to show interested parties when I can if there's interest.
The industry is changing!
Rob
Interested to know about the UK engineering in it - some of my team in a previous role had a lot to do with EP9, wasn't aware of UK ES8 content; just the German bits.As for the "German" engineering, it's a global car and there's a large part of UK engineering in the vehicle.
I guess the proof will be in the pudding - I'll borrow one to show interested parties when I can if there's interest.
The industry is changing!
Rob
amstrange1 said:
Interested to know about the UK engineering in it - some of my team in a previous role had a lot to do with EP9, wasn't aware of UK ES8 content; just the German bits.
Yes, you obviously know about the EP9 - great car! Quite a reasonable engineering presence in the UK - some in Germany but they tend to focus on design and styling over there and let the UK drive the engineering.
It tends to stay off the radar at present - no doubt it will change in future!
Rob
RobDickinson said:
Looks OK, first of a huge wave of Chinese ev's to come I think.
Half model x price puts it close to kona electric prices but much larger car.
I'm totally unconvinced on swapable batteries I just don't see that working at all.
I think battery swap is just one factor of the solution. If you live in a high density place and have no driveway to park on and charge, it will reduce some of the stress!Half model x price puts it close to kona electric prices but much larger car.
I'm totally unconvinced on swapable batteries I just don't see that working at all.
Added to that, if the motorway service stations have battery swap stations installed, even long distances will be simple - the battery swap takes less time than re-fuelling my diesel estate!
And a further advantage is that you don't have to care how old your battery is, and battery technology advances are simple to implement.
I don't think It's the solution, I think it's part of the solution.
Rob
Just seen the NIO today in the flesh in Oxford. Looks v v good. Any ideas on price / release in the U.K.?
On swappable batteries, with looming battery shortages and the huge cost, is it economically viable? Isn’t it better to simply leverage the growing rapid charging network coupled with a ‘home’ on-street charging solution for people without a drive / garage (some v interesting solutions are going to be launched / revealed v soon to address this).
On swappable batteries, with looming battery shortages and the huge cost, is it economically viable? Isn’t it better to simply leverage the growing rapid charging network coupled with a ‘home’ on-street charging solution for people without a drive / garage (some v interesting solutions are going to be launched / revealed v soon to address this).
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff