- The software update boosts the peak motor power of older Firefly EVs to 120 kW, aligning with the updated Firefly EV.
- The new system adds a battery swap station parking assist feature, preparing for Nio's fifth-generation swap stations soon to enter trial operations.
Firefly, the compact EV brand under Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO), has rolled out a major software update aimed at enhancing vehicle performance and preparing for upcoming new infrastructure.
The Aster 1.5.0 system update upgrades the peak motor power of older Firefly EVs to 120 kilowatts (161 hp) from the previous 105 kW, according to an announcement on Thursday.
Users can receive the upgrade for free, which shortens the vehicle's 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time to just 7.9 seconds.
This brings its performance in line with the refreshed Firefly EV launched in April, which maintained its starting price at 119,800 yuan ($17,638).
The free over-the-air (OTA) upgrade fulfills a promise made by Nio's management last month.
Actual test data shows that after the update, the vehicle's acceleration from 50 to 100 km/h improves to 4.61 seconds, according to Firefly.
Another highlight of the update is the addition of a battery swap station parking assist feature, designed to help drivers automatically park their vehicles into Nio's upcoming fifth-generation swap stations.
The company plans to build five to 10 fifth-generation pioneer swap stations between May and June, with large-scale deployment set to begin in July and August.
These new stations feature a completely reconstructed underlying architecture to accommodate the shorter wheelbase of Firefly cars.
Nio currently operates 3,846 battery swap stations in China. The Nio main brand has access to all of these stations, while the Onvo sub-brand is connected to most of them. Firefly vehicles do not yet support the use of battery swap stations.
In addition, the new system optimizes the unlocking experience of the frunk. Users can unlock the frunk by tapping the sensor recognition area, although this requires the purchase and installation of specific hardware.
Nio officially launched the Firefly brand at Nio Day 2024 on December 21, 2024, to challenge Mini and Smart, and the brand's namesake first model, the Firefly EV, went on sale in China on April 19, 2025.
On March 29 this year, Firefly reached its 50,000th delivery milestone, about 11 months after the Firefly EV hit the market.
Firefly has become Nio's pioneer brand for entering international markets, having expanded into several European countries as well as right-hand drive markets including Thailand and Singapore.
Firefly delivered 4,980 vehicles in April, down 18.61% from March, according to data released by Nio earlier this month.
The brand contributed 16.96% of Nio's total deliveries of 29,356 vehicles in April.
($1 = 6.7921 yuan)
