Chinese language EV firm Nio will begin gross sales in 5 extra European international locations in 2021 following its launch in Norway this yr.

The automaker will start deliveries of its ES8 giant SUV in Norway in September and can set up a community of metropolis heart shops, charging stations, service facilities and battery swap stations within the nation.

Nio selected Norway to as its first European market  due to the nation’s dedication to sustainability, Nio founder William Li mentioned in a web-based presentation on Thursday.

“The choice was backed by long-term considering. Norway is probably the most EV pleasant nation,” he mentioned.

In a separate occasion, Li informed journalists in China that the automaker will launch gross sales in 5 extra European international locations.

The ES8 has a variety of between 400 km to 500 km (248 miles to 311 miles) on the WLTP cycle relying on mannequin, Nio mentioned.

No value was given for the automotive, however Nio is aiming on the premium market.

The model’s second mannequin will the ET7 large sedan arriving in 2022. The ET7, a rival for the Tesla Mannequin S, was launched in in January in China with a promised vary of 1,000 km between prices.

Nio will construct 4 battery swap stations across the Norwegian capital of Oslo this yr, with 12 extra deliberate in different cities subsequent yr. The swaps are performed in three minutes as a faster various to charging.

In March, Nio mentioned it had accomplished 2 million battery swaps in China for purchasers. Nio may even construct a fast cost community in Norway, it mentioned.

Nio will comply with Tesla’s direct gross sales mannequin wherein prospects purchase the automotive on-line.

It can additionally construct multi-use showrooms in metropolis facilities referred to as Nio Home, with the primary coming to Oslo this yr. The two,150 sq. meter area may have a restaurant, lounge seating, kids’s play space and convention rooms.

The automaker describes the Nio Home as “a particular assembly place for Nio customers and followers of the model.”

4 extra are deliberate in Norway subsequent yr.

Servicing and new-car supply can be carried out by Nio-branded facilities. The primary 5 can be established this yr, Nio mentioned. The corporate may even supply a pick-up and supply service in addition to cellular servicing.

Norway has grow to be the popular nation for Chinese language EV makers to trial European gross sales attributable to its excessive EV take-up. Final yr Xpeng began deliveries of its G3 SUV. China’s SAIC additionally sells its electrical MG vary in Norway.

Full-electric vehicles accounted for 55 % of Norway’s new-car gross sales in April, in response to knowledge from Norway’s OFV street transportation company. The VW ID4 electrical SUV was the nation’s best-selling automobile total in April.

Nio bought 7,102 autos in China in April, taking its cumulative whole because it started deliveries in 2018 to 102,803, firm knowledge exhibits.