- Onvo will add a LiDAR-equipped version for its L60 SUV, following a similar plan for the L90, according to a filing.
- The move comes as the brand seeks to boost demand in a challenging market.
Nio Inc's sub-brand Onvo will also introduce a LiDAR-equipped version for its L60 mid-size SUV (sport utility vehicle), according to a regulatory catalog released Friday by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The move marks a significant shift in the sub-brand's autonomous driving sensor strategy, as the L60 has not supported LiDAR as an option to date.
Onvo officially launched the L60, the brand's first model, in September 2024, primarily positioning it to rival competitors including Tesla's Model Y.
Currently, all models under the Nio main brand feature roof-mounted LiDAR as standard equipment, which the company views as a crucial safety component for enabling advanced driver assistance functions.
Most Chinese EV makers have equipped their vehicles with LiDAR, though a few automakers, such as Tesla, insist on not using the sensor.
Among Chinese EV makers, Xpeng was one of the earliest adopters of LiDAR, but the company has now also abandoned the sensor in favor of a pure vision-based solution.
The configuration update for the L60 follows a similar plan for Onvo's larger L90 SUV, with a January filing showing that the L90 will also get LiDAR.
Onvo president Shen Fei said on the Nio App in January that the LiDAR-equipped L90 is scheduled to launch in the second quarter, and the upgraded model will come with a higher price tag.
Adding the LiDAR option to the L90 and L60 is part of Onvo's effort to flexibly adjust its product planning in response to the demands of Chinese consumers.
Onvo is facing pressure to boost market demand. Affected by the Chinese New Year holiday, deliveries in February plunged to 2,981 vehicles, the lowest for a full delivery month.
Onvo began deliveries in late September 2024, handing over 832 vehicles that month, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
The brand announced Tuesday that it is reintroducing the L60 Black Knight edition, which will no longer be sold in limited quantities. The model will now be offered as a regular option with a starting price of 211,900 yuan ($30,730) for full-vehicle purchases, a 5,000 yuan premium over the standard L60.
To stimulate sales in March amid a fiercely competitive market, Onvo has also rolled out additional promotional policies, including a full purchase tax subsidy of up to 10,262 yuan.
($1 = 6.896 yuan)
