Nio Surpasses 1M Vehicles, Strengthens CATL Partnership and Plans Australia Launch
NIO has deepened its five-year partnership with battery supplier CATL to develop long-life cells and roll out expanded swapping networks across China. The EV maker will enter Australia and New Zealand this year after surpassing 1 million cumulative vehicle productions and boosting R&D and infrastructure spending.
1. NIO and CATL Extend Five-Year Battery Partnership
NIO has signed a new five-year agreement with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) to co-develop long-life lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery cells and expand its battery-swap network. Under the terms, both parties will invest a combined ¥3.2 billion in a dedicated R&D facility in Hefei, focusing on enhancing cycle life from the current 1,600 to over 2,000 cycles. The deal also covers the joint roll-out of 800 new swap stations in China by the end of 2027, doubling NIO’s existing network and enabling 24/7 around-the-clock battery exchange at key urban hubs. This extension builds on the original partnership launched in 2018 and underscores NIO’s strategy to reduce battery costs by 15 percent through modular cell design and economies of scale.
2. NIO to Launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026
Building on its European foray, NIO plans to enter the Australian and New Zealand markets in the third quarter of 2026 with two models: the ES6 SUV and ET5 sedan, both equipped with swap-compatible LFP packs. The company has committed to deploying 50 battery-swap stations across Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington within 12 months of launch, under a ¥500 million infrastructure investment. Initial deliveries are expected to total 2,500 vehicles in the first year, supported by three NIO Houses (brand experience centers) and five authorized workshops. Management projects that overseas sales will account for 10 percent of total volumes by 2028, up from under 2 percent in 2024.
3. NIO Reaches One-Million Vehicle Production Milestone
In December 2025, NIO celebrated the production of its one-millionth electric vehicle, an ES8 flagship SUV that was donated to a local technology university as part of its community outreach program. Since inception, the company’s cumulative R&D expenditure has risen by 25 percent year-over-year to ¥6.5 billion, funding advancements in silicon-anode cells and ultra-fast charging protocols. As of January 2026, NIO operates 2,200 battery-swap stations globally—up 45 percent from a year earlier—and has formed partnerships with four semiconductor firms to localize battery management IC production. These initiatives aim to improve energy density by 12 percent while trimming per-unit battery costs by ¥2,000.