NIO, the Chinese language EV producer based in 2017, seemingly plans to launch a smartphone. Again in March, the agency’s CEO William Li confirmed that NIO was trying into smartphone growth. He cited the long-rumored (however nonetheless unconfirmed) Apple Automotive as a motive for coming into the smartphone area.

Now, based on a Weibo submit by a Chinese language influencer, William Li confirmed that NIO will launch a smartphone. Moreover, Li apparently informed the influencer that the smartphone shall be historically formed, not curved or folding. It would reportedly value marginally lower than an iPhone and will make the most of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. In keeping with the submit the telephone will arrive subsequent 12 months, in the meantime NIO plans to launch an up to date model on a yearly foundation.

This comes as studies a few extra inexpensive NIO sub-brand proceed to develop. In keeping with Electrek, the model is codenamed Undertaking Firefly and goals to cater to the decrease finish of the market. Its EVs will reportedly value between $15-30k. It is necessary to keep in mind that NIO has already confirmed it is engaged on a funds model, codenamed ALPS, for the $22-44k section. Subsequently we’d take rumors of yet one more funds model with a pinch of salt. 

After a lot success in China, NIO is increasing into Europe. The automaker entered the Norwegian market final 12 months and is about to launch in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2022. Moreover, NIO is about to open a manufacturing unit in Hungary subsequent month. The 107,000-square-foot facility shall be NIO’s European hub and shall be used primarily for battery manufacturing. The manufacturing unit goals to provide 240 battery swap stations per 12 months. Presently, NIO’s purpose is to have 4,000 battery swap stations in operation worldwide by 2025.