EV manufacturer NIO Group’s sub-brand, ONVO, which was announced back in May, has begun production of its first electric car to use the brand, the L60.
The compact electric SUV is set to rival similarly sized EVs, such as Tesla’s Model Y – which, coincidentally, the ONVO L60 already beats when it comes to price.
With production commencing, the L60 is initially launching in China, at a starting price of RMB 219,900 ($30,693), whilst further territories are next.
ONVO L60 production launch gives us a closer look at the new EV
The start of production means the first L60s will reach Chinese customers as soon as next month. Whilst ONVO is a brand NIO is planning to bring to Europe, the manufacturer won’t give a specific launch date for the region, but expect to see the ONVO brand land in Europe in 2025, with slightly higher prices than those given for China. Much like other EVs under the wider NIO arm, the ONVO L60 is also battery swappable, also allowing owners to upgrade at a later date to higher capacity batteries with a longer range. The L60 will be offered in battery capacities of 60kWh, 90kWh, and 150kWh, allowing ranges of approximately 555km, 730km, and 1,000km, respectively.
The photos from the production line also gave us the first look at the interior of the ONVO L60, giving a clear hint as to which electric car is its main rival. A highly minimalist interior, with a large front touchscreen, and an additional screen for rear passengers, looks very similar to the setups seen in the more expensive Tesla Model S and X models. Additionally, the front seats can fold completely flat, allowing the L60 to become a makeshift bed or lounge. All of these small, practical extras could help give the L60 a one-up on its rival, the Model Y.
ONVO is just one of two sub-brands NIO has in the works. A second brand, codenamed ‘Firefly’, is set to produce EVs at even lower price points.
Hui Zhang, Group Vice President of NIO, commented on the launch on LinkedIn:
“Huge congratulations to the ONVO team on the first production of the all-new ONVO L60! This marks a significant milestone for the NIO Group as we introduce one of our two new sub-brands. The ONVO L60 is designed with families in mind, offering a spacious interior and built on a 900v platform architecture that supports ultra-fast charging.”
