
(Bloomberg) — Chinese electric-SUV maker Nio Inc. is expanding into sedans, intensifying its rivalry with Tesla Inc. and its popular Model 3 in the world’s largest electric-vehicle market.
“We are going to launch a sedan soon and are currently developing another one,” Chief Executive Officer William Li said Wednesday on a conference call following Nio’s third-quarter earnings. “So the next two products in line will both be sedans.”
The Shanghai-based manufacturer plans to launch one vehicle each year. Its next Nio Day event, where it typically unveils new models, is slated for January.
Tesla leads Nio in China sales, helped by the Model 3 sedan, and Elon Musk’s company is set to bring out the Model Y compact SUV in a direct challenge to Nio. The Model Y launch will help the entire EV market grow, and the new vehicle will compete against Tesla’s Model 3, Li said.
“We have our own advantages,” he said.
Nio, which sells only in China, said it plans to enter the European market as soon as the second half of 2021. The company will stick to premium vehicles in the new market, Chief Financial Officer Steven Feng said.