Chinese battery electric vehicle (BEV) startup Nio plans to launch a new brand to help strengthen its sales of battery powered family passenger vehicles, according to local reports.

Nio chairman and CEO William Li said the new brand, called Onvo, would be launched later this week headed by a former Disney executive. The main focus of the new brand would be to closely cater for the needs of families. The first model, the L60, will be an SUV to compete with the Tesla Model Y.

The New York listed company this week celebrated the production of its 500,000th vehicle, the ES8, at its factory in Hefei, Anhui province which began operations in 2018.

Nio said its global sales surged 135% to 15,620 vehicles in April and 21% to 45,673 units year to date.

The company launched the ET7 battery powered smart executive sedan last month which, it said, had a range of 1,000km (620 miles) on a single charge and was driven by a 150kWh powertrain.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Have you nominated?

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Just Auto Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation, leadership, and impact. This is your chance to showcase your achievements, highlight industry advancements, and gain global recognition. Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today!

Nominate Now