Nio recently made headlines by introducing an additional five years of free battery swaps, capped at 240, earlier this month. This move is seen as a strategic move to clear inventory of current models in preparation for the launch of the facelift.
According to reports, Nio received a significant number of new firm orders during the Qingming Festival holiday, with more than 3,500 new orders coming in over the three-day holiday period. This surge in orders can be attributed to the launch of the additional five years of free battery swap service, which acted as a powerful incentive for potential buyers.
The Qingming Festival holiday, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, took place from April 4 to April 6, with the last two days falling on the weekend. This holiday period proved to be a fruitful time for Nio, as the increased incentives for car purchases led to a notable boost in new orders.
Nio has a history of leveraging its battery swap service to drive sales. Last year, the company used the service to enhance the appeal of its BaaS (battery as a service) offering, resulting in a surge in monthly deliveries. This time around, the company’s decision to offer an additional five years of free battery swaps for select models has once again proven to be a successful sales strategy.
In addition to the battery swap incentive, Nio also announced increased car-buying incentives for its 2024 models. Customers who pay a deposit for models such as the ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, EC6, ET7, EC7, or ES8 will be eligible for the five years of free battery swaps, capped at 240.
Looking ahead, Nio has exciting plans for the future, with new product launches scheduled for every quarter from the second quarter to the fourth quarter. The company’s founder, William Li, has revealed that the main selling models of the Nio brand will receive facelifts, with updates to their interiors and the introduction of Nio’s own Shenji autonomous driving chip.
In March, Nio delivered a total of 15,039 vehicles, marking a significant increase from the same period last year. The deliveries included models from both the main Nio brand and the sub-brand Onvo, showcasing the company’s strong performance in the EV market.
With a focus on innovation, customer incentives, and strategic planning, Nio continues to make waves in the electric vehicle industry. As the company gears up for the launch of facelifted models and new product releases, the future looks bright for this pioneering EV manufacturer.