NIO's Car Buying Guide in February 2025: For the first time in 5 years, more and more people are worried about bankruptcy

No one can guarantee absolute objectivity.

But what I can guarantee is that all the views in the article have certain facts to support them for your reference.

What is the most terrifying thing when Xiaobai encounters when buying a car? ——After watching some recharge/brainless bragging videos, you used the savings of several years to buy a car that was completely inconsistent with your actual needs.

What should you do at this time? It will cost at least tens of thousands of yuan to sell and change the car. If you use it, you will be upset for several years.

However, those who recommend cars will not suffer any losses. They will still accept the money and still yell. Everything has nothing to do with you... I believe this is a 99% silence that most car friends encounter. As a car professional, I still hope to provide more reference for everyone to buy a car.

1. Full analysis of NIO's existing models

NIO currently sells three categories: SUV, sedan and station wagon, and there are also multiple sub-categories (such as sloping SUVs). The planning method of its product line is similar to the traditional luxury brand ideas, mainly providing the most and most personalized choices for high-net-worth customers as much as possible.

In the future, the NIO brand will continue to move upward, the price will increase, and the positioning will gradually move closer to the administrative direction. Therefore, for the group whose car purchase budget is just around 300,000 yuan, it may be a good time to buy NIO.

Currently, the entire 2024 NIO series is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip and supports 5G network.

1. SUV series

ES8 (498,000-518,000-598,000): NIO's flagship SUV, focusing on 6/7-seat space and luxury configuration. There is a separate administrative version: the starting price is 518,000 yuan, and the starting price of the BaaS plan is 448,000 yuan.

No one can guarantee absolute objectivity.

But what I can guarantee is that all the views in the article have certain facts to support them for your reference.

What is the most terrifying thing when Xiaobai encounters when buying a car? ——After watching some recharge/brainless bragging videos, you used the savings of several years to buy a car that was completely inconsistent with your actual needs.

What should you do at this time? It will cost at least tens of thousands of yuan to sell and change the car. If you use it, you will be upset for several years.

However, those who recommend cars will not suffer any losses. They will still accept the money and still yell. Everything has nothing to do with you... I believe this is a 99% silence that most car friends encounter. As a car professional, I still hope to provide more reference for everyone to buy a car.

1. Full analysis of NIO's existing models

NIO currently sells three categories: SUV, sedan and station wagon, and there are also multiple sub-categories (such as sloping SUVs). The planning method of its product line is similar to the traditional luxury brand ideas, mainly providing the most and most personalized choices for high-net-worth customers as much as possible.

In the future, the NIO brand will continue to move upward, the price will increase, and the positioning will gradually move closer to the administrative direction. Therefore, for the group whose car purchase budget is just around 300,000 yuan, it may be a good time to buy NIO.

Currently, the entire 2024 NIO series is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip and supports 5G network.

1. SUV series

ES8 (498,000-518,000-598,000): NIO's flagship SUV, focusing on 6/7-seat space and luxury configuration. There is a separate administrative version: the starting price is 518,000 yuan, and the starting price of the BaaS plan is 448,000 yuan.

EC7 (458,000-548,000): Flagship coupe SUV, sporty design, with movable tail wing.

ES7 (438,000-518,000): A medium and large SUV that takes into account performance and home demand. In the NIO system, it has more space than ES6 and air suspension. Compared with ES8, it only has 5 seat options, so its advantages are relatively limited.

EC6 (starting from 358,000): NIO’s entry-level coupe SUV, with a younger positioning.

ES6 (starting from 338,000): an all-round SUV, a major sales model of NIO, with a high cost performance and suitable for home users.

2. Sedan series

ET9 (788,000-818,000): NIO's flagship Cross sedan has received quite a lot of orders. The ET9's administrative four-seater layout, luxurious rear configuration (such as small table boards, refrigerators) and quiet design are suitable for business reception or long-distance travel.

ET7 (428,000-458,000): Flagship sedan, has now completely moved towards the administrative direction.

ET5 (starting from 298,000): Medium-sized coupe, entry-level price + high performance, suitable for young users.

ET5T (starting from 298,000): ET5 travel version, more practical space.

3. The core technology upgrade of the new car

The 2024 full series has been upgraded to the fourth-generation cockpit chip of Qualcomm Snapdragon (SA8295P).

2. Summary of official preferential policies 1. Limited time financial policies (February 2025)

5-year 0-interest loan: 20% down payment, free of charge, applicable to all systems (except ET9). For the reasons for the discount, Li Bin publicly made it clear that "the announcement of this preferential policy is because before the arrival of the new model, it is necessary to check the inventory of the old model."

Superimposed benefits:

Users can obtain an optional fund worth 10,000 yuan to personalize the vehicle's exterior, interior or functional upgrades (such as wheel hubs, seat materials, etc.).

48 free battery swap vouchers (total value of about 4,800 yuan) are provided to cover users' high-frequency energy replenishment needs in the first year and alleviate mileage anxiety.

Free 5 years of NOP+ usage rights (NIO automatic navigation assisted driving system), value (380 yuan × 60 months = 22,800 yuan), and supports intelligent driving functions in scenarios such as highways and urban expressways.

A limited-time repurchase subsidy of 5,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan will be launched for existing NIO owners, which is suitable for purchasing or replacing new NIO cars, further consolidating user loyalty. Users who repurchase ET5/ET5T/ES6/EC6 can enjoy a discount of 5,000 yuan, and users who repurchase ET7/ES7 can enjoy a discount of 10,000 yuan.

2. Replacement subsidy

Oil vehicle replacement: The maximum subsidy of 15,000 yuan optional fund can be superimposed with the 10,000 yuan optional fund in February, totaling 25,000 yuan optional fund.

Bottom-of-the-box policy: If the government replacement subsidy in 2025 cannot be enjoyed due to invoice issuance time, NIO will compensate with equal points.

3. Other policies

BaaS battery rental: The car price is reduced by 70,000 to 128,000 yuan, and the monthly rental fee is classified according to the battery capacity.

4. National/local subsidies

Starting from 2025, the country has clearly set a national unified upper limit for replacement subsidies: the maximum subsidy for purchasing new energy passenger cars is 15,000 yuan per vehicle, and the maximum subsidy for fuel passenger cars is 13,000 yuan per vehicle. This standard replaces the local independent model for subsidy amounts in 2024, aiming to avoid excessive regional differences.

Applicable objects: Individual consumers transfer old cars registered under their own name and purchase new cars (including new energy and fuel vehicles). Time limit: The registration time for old cars shall not be later than the date of policy announcement (January 8, 2025). New cars must be purchased and registered from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Exclusive clause: The same new car cannot enjoy national scrapping subsidies and replacement subsidies at the same time.

Scrap subsidies (for vehicles with emissions from National IV and below) still maintain the standard of 20,000 yuan for new energy vehicles and 15,000 yuan for fuel vehicles, but the upper limit of replacement subsidies is lower than the scrap subsidy to guide the elimination of high-pollution vehicles.

3. Policy interpretation and applicable scenarios 1. Financial plan selection suggestions

Currently, there is no brainer to choose 0 interest rates for 5 years.

2. Suggestions for the use of optional funds

Must-have: Northern cars are recommended to choose a comfortable set (ventilated/massage front seats, heating steering wheel, heating in the rear, about 9,500 yuan).

Optional upgrade: NOMI voice assistant (NIO's biggest feature, can provide emotional value. It is very recommended to choose if you have children at home, about 4,900 yuan).

Generally, there is no upgrade: larger wheels or special car paint (large wheels mean higher power consumption, and the tires are relatively easy to bulge, and the price is more expensive only depends on personalized needs).

4. I knew the following new model planning, so I won’t be backstung when buying a car. 1. Models to be released in 2025

New ES6/EC6/ET5/ET5T: Added AC slow charging port, upgraded horizontal screen central control, replaced by Zhijia chip with 2 self-developed Shenji NX9031, with a single computing power of 1,000 TOPS, and is expected to be launched from May to June.

Changes: vertical screen to horizontal screen, Huaiqi design, NOMI plus gimbal, outside car wake-up NOMI, touch panel, etc., etc., the seat comfort adjustment, hud improvement, and the options for headrest speakers/electronic rearview mirrors/electric welcome doors are also expected to be invisible.

In terms of price, the price of the 2025 model will be "a little higher" than the current model. Brother Bin added later, "The price will be "more to say how much it will increase", but the current model will definitely have a large discount, and the somatosensory gap should be a difference of 50,000 to 60,000 yuan.

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New ES7: In 2024, Li Bin said that NIO will have a new "7" model in 2025, and the body color will be breakthrough. There are 60 layers of process in the color, polishing layer by layer. It is expected that the size will be further increased, or more than 5 meters (uncertain information, for reference only)

(Sub-brand) Firefly (pre-sale starting from 148,800 yuan): Entry-level car, benchmarked against MINI, focuses on urban commuting, and is currently determined to be sold with NIO models. The main product selling point is currently the safest A0-class car. It has been determined not to use NIO's existing battery swap system and use a new battery swap system. The new battery swap system will not be laid out in advance. It is speculated that its biggest purpose is to provide Fireflies with BaaS solutions and lower the threshold for car purchase.

Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology information: a 42.1kWh battery, a 420-kilometer range, and a kilowatt-hour of electricity can run 10 kilometers. The battery weight is 314kg and the energy density is 134Wh/kg. It is supposed to be a lithium iron phosphate battery.

(Sub-brand) Ledao L70/L80: Big five-seater/six-seater SUV, targeting home users, is expected to be launched in the third quarter.

2. Technical routes and differences

NT1.0 platform: It has been discontinued and will be encountered when purchasing used cars. The key is to choose models that have enabled large NP (the strongest NOA high-speed pilot in the era of artificial rules, as well as urban elevated expressway pilot), and upgraded to the Alder system (8155 chip, which can support sentinel mode).

NT1.5 platform: It has been discontinued, and there should be only the first generation ES7. The first generation ET7 is the model of this platform. The biggest feature is that the charging port of the ES7 is located on the left and right front side like the NT1.0 model, and the ET7 is located on the rear side normally. The other configurations are basically the same as the NT2.0 model.

NT2.0 platform: Among the NIO models currently on sale, except for ET9, all are NT2.0 platforms.

NT2.5 platform: It is expected that the four cars of ES6, EC6, ET5 and ET5T will be upgraded to the NT2.5 platform first, upgrade the chip and configuration, but the battery pack will be shared with the NT2.0 platform.

NT3.0 platform: The new model in 2025 will be based on this platform, supporting higher energy density batteries and 800V fast charging throughout the region. Currently, Ledao L60 and NIO ET9 belong to this platform.

5. Other rights and interests of NIO 1. NIO Center (referred to as Niuwu "Nio House")

Users can order drinks and snacks in the NIO Center, and use the seats in the NIO Center for free. If you don’t want to consume beverages, you can also ask the NHS (Nio Center service staff) to provide free lemonade.

There will be children's areas in NIO Center, and some NIO Centers can temporarily custodian their children by visiting shopping malls.

2. NIO battery swap station

Battery swap, as the name suggests, is to replace the battery without electricity (the minimum can be 0%), and then replace the car with a battery that is nearly fully charged (usually 93%). The fastest process takes less than 3 minutes. It is the most distinctive and core of product competitiveness.

Currently, NIO has more than 3,000 battery swap stations nationwide, and plans to achieve county-level access in some provinces by the end of 2025 (each county has at least one battery swap station)

6. NIO FAQ 1. The feasibility of continuous losses and profit targets2. Controversy and sustainability of battery swap model

NIO plans to increase battery swap stations to 5,000 by 2025, but the current utilization rate of battery swap networks is insufficient, with the average daily service volume of a single station only 50-60 times, far from reaching the breakeven point. Users still have concerns about battery swap convenience (such as queuing issues during the peak period of the Spring Festival) and battery standardized compatibility.

3. Synergistic effects after opening the charging network

In 2025, the opening of the charging network will be carried out with Great Wall Motors. Although it will improve resource utilization, it may dilute the exclusive service experience of NIO users, and the attractiveness of battery swap technology to other brands is doubtful.

Details worth sharing: Chery’s car is in the battery swap station, and the first car in NIO’s battery swap alliance is not far from being launched.

4. The actual performance of intelligent driving technology and user trust

Although the NWM intelligent driving technology released by NIO in 2024 claims to deduce 216 trajectories in 0.1 seconds, its actual application effect has not yet been verified. Data acquisition and simulation training are expensive, and the technology iteration speed may lag behind competitors.

5. Market competition and sales pressure - sales are not good?7. More questions?

Click the link below to ask me questions after registering the NIO app.

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