NIO has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with its strategic investor CYVN to establish an advanced technology R&D center in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This center will focus on smart driving and artificial intelligence technology development, further expanding NIO’s global R&D footprint and fostering technological innovation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Additionally, NIO and CYVN will jointly develop a new model tailored for the local market to better meet the growing demand for smart electric vehicles in the area. NIO also announced its official entry into the MENA region, with operations to be conducted through a joint venture called NIO MENA Company, providing services to local users and supporting the region’s sustainable development vision.
The UAE will be the launch market for NIO MENA Company. NIO plans to commence operations across its entire ecosystem in the UAE in the fourth quarter of this year, focusing on products, services, and community engagement.
Since 2021, NIO has made significant strides in its global expansion. The company has entered five European markets with a full ecosystem encompassing products, services, and community initiatives. As of September 2024, six production models-including the EL8 (ES8 in China), ET7, EL7 (ES7 in China), ET5, ET5T, and EL6 (ES6 in China)-have been introduced to the European market. NIO has established 56 battery swap stations in Europe and connected over 600,000 third-party charging points, along with opening eight NIO Centers, ten NIO Spaces, and 45 NIO Service Centers.
The signing of the strategic cooperation agreement with CYVN and the establishment of NIO MENA Company mark another important milestone in NIO’s global expansion strategy. NIO will continue to advance its globalization efforts steadily, collaborating with partners to drive technological innovation in the global smart electric vehicle industry and provide innovative technologies, products, and services to users in more countries and regions.