Nio has officially confirmed that its compact Firefly electric hatchback will be introduced to the Australian market. This announcement follows sightings of the vehicle undergoing road tests in Melbourne, as well as regulatory documents being lodged to secure approval for local sales. Despite these developments, the company has yet to provide a firm schedule for when Australian customers will be able to place orders or receive their vehicles. According to Nio, it is still in the process of securing a suitable local distributor, which is delaying the launch timeline.
Pricing for the Firefly remains unconfirmed, but based on what the car costs in Europe, industry analysts expect it to begin at roughly $35,000 before on-road fees. What remains uncertain, however, is whether Nio plans to expand its Australian range beyond this single model. A spokesperson for the Firefly division told Drive that the company is actively negotiating with potential distributors and hopes to accelerate these discussions to ensure a stable and compliant entry into the Australian market. The approach suggests Nio is pursuing a similar path to other Chinese EV makers such as BYD and XPeng, which initially partnered with independent importers before shifting toward direct factory-backed operations. This shift allowed those brands to streamline pricing by removing an intermediary between manufacturing and dealership networks.
Nio says the Firefly is currently undergoing road testing in Australia as part of its global validation program, which includes regional crash and safety evaluations. According to the company, these tests are nearing completion, and their objective is to make the Firefly the first small car to satisfy safety standards across China, Europe, and Australia simultaneously. The right-hand-drive version of the model has already been fully engineered, with several trim levels and configurations prepared specifically for markets such as Australia. Nio emphasized that the ongoing testing and certification work represents key steps toward a formal launch and promised to release more detailed timing updates as soon as they become available.
The Firefly has already achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, reinforcing its credentials as a global model designed for both left-hand- and right-hand-drive countries. Market rollout plans include launches in Singapore in January 2026, followed by the United Kingdom later in the year. Production of the right-hand-drive variant is already underway. When comparing European pricing against competing electric hatchbacks from BYD and MG, the Firefly is expected to sit around the $35,000 mark in Australia—more expensive than the BYD Dolphin but significantly cheaper than the Mini Cooper SE. Dimensionally, the Firefly measures 4003mm in length, 1781mm in width, and 1557mm in height, riding on a 2615mm wheelbase. This places it in the same size class as the Volkswagen Polo or Toyota Yaris, while being slightly shorter but similarly wide to the BYD Dolphin.
The model approved for Australia is equipped with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 105kW and 200Nm. In Europe, this setup is paired with a 41.2kWh battery capable of delivering between 320km and 330km of range under the WLTP test cycle, depending on wheel choice. Nio claims the Firefly can accelerate from 0–100km/h in 8.1 seconds and recharge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 29 minutes using a 100kW DC fast charger.
European versions come well equipped, offering features such as LED headlights, a 13.2-inch central display, and a 6-inch digital instrument panel. Higher-grade variants offer amenities including 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seats, heated and ventilated front seats with massage functions, premium upholstery options, ambient lighting, a 50-watt wireless smartphone charger, high-output USB-C ports, and a 14-speaker premium sound system. A comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies is also available.