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AutoWallis Group has agreed to acquire the exclusive import rights for the Chinese electric car brand NIO in Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, the company revealed.
Sales are expected to start in the last quarter of 2025, in Hungary and Austria, followed by Romania, the Czech Republic, and Poland in 2026. With the agreement signed with AutoWallis Group, NIO has taken a significant step towards expanding its European presence, having entered the Norwegian market in 2021, followed by Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany in 2022, the company said.
The Shanghai-based company, founded in 2014, operates a battery replacement station manufacturing plant in Biatorbágy (near Budapest).
NIO has development centers in several countries around the world: in the UK it has an industrial design center, in California and Berlin it develops advanced self-driving software, and in Munich it has a design center for the exterior and interior of its cars.
NIO’s most unique innovation is the replaceable battery pack in its electric cars. Like other similar models, NIO cars can be charged from charging stations, but their unique design allows the entire battery pack to be replaced in less than three minutes.
NIO currently operates 60 battery replacement stations in Europe, which it plans to expand further on the continent in the future.
AutoWallis recalled that they were among the first to partner with popular Chinese brands such as BYD, MG, and Farizon, and most recently agreed to exclusively distribute the XPENG brand in three countries in the region in cooperation with their Portuguese partner.
The company is exploring further business development opportunities to further expand the group’s coverage to 16 countries.
Via MTI, Featured image: Hungary Today