NIO's third Chinese manufacturing facility to commence operations imminently
NIO, a Chinese electric vehicle maker, is gearing up to produce its third factory in Hefei, Anhui province, with the factory set to begin production in September. This factory, known as the F3 factory, will primarily support NIO's budget-friendly Onvo sub-brand, and will be the production site for the Onvo L90, a large SUV that is set to compete with the Tesla Model Y in China's EV market.
The Onvo L90, the first Onvo vehicle launch under new brand president Shen Fei, made its debut at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show. Shen Fei has hinted at imminent deliveries of the L90, and the production timeline was confirmed during a tour of NIO's second Hefei plant over the weekend. The event was attended by Chinese writer and ET9 owner Wu Xiaobo and nearly 100 entrepreneurs.
The Onvo L90 comes standard with an 85-kWh battery boasting a 605 km CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) range, and it supports battery swapping—a key feature that enhances convenience and reduces downtime for users. Nio's extensive infrastructure includes 3,402 battery swap stations and nearly 2,900 supercharging stations across China, giving it an edge in charging and battery management flexibility.
The vehicle itself is larger than Tesla’s Model Y L, with dimensions approximately 5,145 mm in length and 1,998 mm in width, compared to the Model Y L’s 4,976 mm length and 1,920 mm width. This size advantage caters to consumers seeking more spaciousness in a premium EV.
Pricing-wise, while exact Onvo L90 figures are not detailed, it is indicated that NIO positions the L90 to be competitively priced beneath or close to comparable premium SUVs, including Tesla’s Model Y variants, aiming to attract a balanced segment of the market that values luxury, size, and technological convenience. Additionally, NIO offers battery upgrade flexibility with a broader range of battery sizes available for the L90, including 65, 75, 85, 100, and even 150 kWh options in their premium lineup—providing customers with customizable performance and range choices.
In response to Tesla’s upcoming six-seat Model Y L launch in China, NIO’s CEO William Li publicly emphasized the innovative nature of the Onvo L90 and framed it as a product well-positioned within China's large-space premium EV market, promoting collaboration and competition through the slogan “Let’s power up together!”
Pre-sales for Onvo's flagship SUV, the L90, are scheduled to start on July 10, with the starting price for the Onvo L90 expected to be below RMB 300,000 (roughly $41,870 USD), amid intensifying competition in China's EV market. The aggressive pricing strategy and the new factory coming online position Onvo to compete head-on in China's increasingly crowded EV market.
References:
- https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1132033_nio-onvo-l90-suv-battery-swap-and-charging-network-advantages-vs-tesla-model-y
- https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/nio-onvo-l90-scheduled-to-start-production-in-september-2022/
- https://www.motor1.com/news/1384217/nio-onvo-l90-production-begin-in-september/
- https://www.carnewschina.com/nio-onvo-l90-price-to-start-at-under-rmb-300000-in-china/
- NIO's forthcoming Onvo L90, a budget-friendly electric SUV, is poised to compete with Tesla's Model Y in China's EV market, leveraging its powerful technology and extensive battery swap and charging network.
- With the Onvo L90's projected starting price under RMB 300,000, NIO aims to attract a balanced market segment seeking luxury, size, and technological convenience, responding to Tesla's Model Y launch and fueling the intensifying competition in China's EV industry.
- As NIO gears up to produce the Onvo L90 at its F3 factory this September, the Chinese automotive business stays focused on technology innovation, fostering collaboration and competition within the transportation sector.
