On June 24, Firefly officially launched its BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) battery rental purchase scheme. According to official information, the Firefly “Zizai” edition is priced from CNY 119,800 (approx. USD 16,800), while the “Faguang” edition starts at CNY 125,800 (approx. USD 17,600). With the BaaS battery rental option, the vehicle price is reduced by CNY 40,000 (approx. USD 5,600), bringing the Zizai edition down to CNY 79,800 (approx. USD 11,200) and the Faguang edition down to CNY 85,800 (approx. USD 12,000). The monthly battery rental fee is CNY 399 (approx. USD 56).
The company revealed that the first owner can enjoy a “Buy 4, Get 1 Free” promotion on BaaS rental fees for three years: for every four monthly BaaS bills paid, the next bill is waived.
Firefly is the third brand under NIO, with its first model also named Firefly. It was officially launched on April 19 with the Zizai and Faguang trims. NIO CEO William Li previously described Firefly as “a car smarter than the MINI, and smaller than the Smart,” hoping to make the name memorable.
Design
As a small all-electric car, the Firefly’s design is distinctive. The front end features a square, closed-off design with headlights made of three circular light rings. The grille adopts a capsule-shaped design connected to the headlights, a motif echoed across the car, including the taillights. The brand logo in the center of the front combines two shapes into the letter “y,” symbolizing the word “Yinghuochong” (Firefly).
The side profile adopts a hatchback body, compact dimensions, and short overhangs, paired with a rear spoiler, unique Y-shaped taillight signatures, and a sporty overall appearance. The Firefly measures 4,003 mm in length, 1,781 mm in width, and 1,557 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,615 mm.
Interior
The cabin continues the exterior’s rounded-corner theme, featuring a two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, large floating central touchscreen, and a full LCD instrument cluster, appealing to younger buyers. Fluorescent capsule-inspired design elements run across panels, handles, and vents. Four interior color schemes and two material options are available, along with ambient lighting in eight preset modes such as “Cloud Flight,” “Neon Party,” and “Sunset Boulevard.”
Powertrain
The Firefly is equipped with a rear-wheel-drive motor (model TZ160S010), manufactured by NIO Power Technology in Hefei. It delivers a maximum power of 105 kW (141 hp), enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h. It supports NIO’s battery swapping network, using a 42.1 kWh pack with a CLTC range of 420 km (261 miles).
Market Position
Positioned as a premium compact EV, the Firefly is expected to compete with models such as the BYD Dolphin (starting at CNY 99,800 / USD 14,000) and the ORA Good Cat (starting at CNY 105,800 / USD 14,800). With the BaaS plan lowering the entry price to CNY 79,800 (USD 11,200), the Firefly becomes an attractive option.
Deliveries of the Firefly began on April 29, with 3,680 units delivered in May. Whether the BaaS battery rental plan will significantly boost sales remains to be seen. Some users have noted that the total cost is not reduced, and since Firefly is not fully integrated into the NIO swap-station system, the advantages of BaaS may not be fully realized.
