- Singaporean customers can now reserve the Firefly EV through Wearnes, with the first local Firefly showroom opening in late January.
- Nio aims to expand its international footprint to 40 countries and regions by year-end.
Nio Inc's (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) premium compact EV brand Firefly debuted the Firefly EV at the Singapore Motorshow 2026 on Thursday, marking the company's first right-hand drive model officially entering overseas markets.
Right-hand drive Firefly EV pre-orders are now open in Singapore, making the Southeast Asian city-state the first market to receive the model.
Nio partners with Singaporean automotive retailer Wearnes Automotive, established in 1906, which represents and retails multiple premium and luxury brands.
This mirrors the company's strategy in several other markets as it increasingly relies on distributors overseas rather than capital-intensive direct sales models.
Singaporean customers can now reserve the Firefly EV through Wearnes, with the brand's first local showroom set to open in late January.
The Firefly EV is compact and agile, effortlessly navigating tight parking spaces and complex driving scenarios, and it also offers ample space to meet diverse real-life needs, said Chris Chen, Nio's global business head.
Nio plans to continue its overseas expansion this year through distributor partnerships, with Firefly serving as the pioneer brand. The company aims to expand its international footprint to 40 countries and regions by year-end, it said, reiterating previously announced strategy.
Nio officially launched the Firefly brand at Nio Day 2024 on December 21, 2024, positioning it to compete with Mini and Smart. The brand's namesake model, the Firefly EV, was launched in China on April 19, 2025.
Firefly has commenced deliveries in Europe, featuring left-hand drive configurations like those in China.
This Nio sub-brand aims to enter more overseas markets, as company management believes this premium compact EV -- offering lower pricing and greater suitability for urban commuting -- holds stronger commercial viability abroad.
Nio will launch its EVs in Australia and New Zealand this year, with market entry expected in the second half of 2026, Chen said earlier Thursday in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
He added that Nio will enter the Thai market in March, introducing Firefly there.
