- Nio and Bosch will collaborate in areas including steer-by-wire chassis, battery management systems, powertrain systems, and autonomous driving perception modules.
- The newly signed agreement will cover all three brands under Nio Inc — Nio, Onvo, and Firefly.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO, HKG: 9866) has entered into a strategic partnership with German automotive parts giant Bosch Group during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to China.
The move underscores the enduring alignment of interests between China and Germany in the automotive supply chain, particularly against the backdrop of EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Nio said in a Friday announcement that the newly signed agreement will cover all three of its brands — Nio, Onvo, and Firefly.
The two parties will engage in deep collaboration in core technologies for smart electric vehicles, including steer-by-wire chassis, battery management systems, powertrain systems, and autonomous driving perception modules.
This business alliance was forged against a backdrop of high-level diplomacy. Merz conducted his first official two-day visit to China on February 25-26 and toured multiple companies.
On February 25, Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li represented Chinese automakers at the Sino-German Economic Advisory Council symposium co-chaired by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Merz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Li engaged with Chinese and German business leaders on topics including supply chain stability, green and low-carbon initiatives, and mutual investment environments.
This high-profile collaboration comes as Chinese automakers face trade barriers in Europe.
The EU previously decided to impose additional tariffs on imported Chinese electric vehicles, with Nio facing a surcharge of up to 21%. This is levied on top of the existing 10% tariff.
Last month, China and the EU reached a consensus on price undertaking for Chinese EV exports, marking significant progress toward replacing the additional tariffs.
Despite geopolitical headwinds, Nio continues to expand its presence in Germany, Europe's largest automotive market.
The company established its global design center in Munich in its early years, followed by the launch of its Berlin innovation center and Brandenburg smart driving center in 2023 and 2024 respectively. It has also advanced its Nio House network in cities like Hamburg.
