Firefly's first model was recently spotted undergoing testing in China, hidden under heavy camouflage.
The prototype is camouflaged and appears to be a hatchback, although Chinese media are calling it a crossover. It may have a design similar to the Subaru Crosstrek due to plastic cladding concealed under the thick wrap. It is unclear from the spy shots whether it will be similar in size to the VW ID.3 or closer to the upcoming ID.2.
The EV has a five-door bodystyle with squared-out lighting units and a clamshell boot. Additionally, it has a large spoiler covering the rear glass, complemented by sturdy C-pillars. It's worth noting that unlike Nio's pricier offerings, Firefly EVs do not come equipped with LiDAR sensors.
The all-electric prototype was spotted during early development testing near one of Nio's battery swapping facilities. It's believed to be compatible with this type of technology, eliminating long charging times for those with access to a battery swapping station. Unfortunately, we don't have any information about the technical specifications of the electric powertrain.
Firefly EV
What we do know is that Firefly will position itself competitively in the market, undercutting both its parent company Nio and the upcoming Tesla rival Onvo in terms of pricing. Reports suggest that its models will range between ¥100,000-200,000 ($13,900-27,800) in China and start at under €30,000 ($32,500) in Europe.
CarNewsChina reported that Firefly EVs will be manufactured in mainland China. Potential production sites include Chuzhou and Hefei, located in the Anhui province.
Source: CarNewsChina
