The first spy photos of the Alps DOM, the codename for Nio’s new brand’s first model intended for more affordable vehicles and also planned for Europe, have appeared online. In fact, the first experimental specimens of the Alps DOM are already rolling off the production line these days.
Nio will unveil Alps and its DOM after the Chinese New Year in March, while mass production will start in the second half of 2024, probably in October according to some Chinese media outlets. The Alps DOM will be an electric SUV, obviously compatible with Nio’s battery swapping technology. Nio has also announced a second, even more affordable brand dedicated to compact cars: it will be called Firefly and will be launched in Europe in 2025.
Despite the SUV market becoming increasingly crowded in China, with the Tesla Model Y leading the way, Nio believes that an SUV is the right strategy to launch the brand and try to recover from losses, as well as to reassure investors.
This means that Alps will not only have to compete with Tesla, but also with Xpeng G6, BYD Atto 3, BYD Seal U, and dozens and dozens of Chinese and non-Chinese electric SUVs in that segment.
In any case, the entire Alps lineup will be based on the third-generation NT 3.0 platform, with battery options of 60 and 90 kWh, presumably offering ranges of up to 600 km. It is also expected that the Alps DOM will have a price of around 250,000 yuan or 30,000 € and, unlike vehicles branded Nio, will not have Lidar and will feature only one Orin chip. Shortly after launch, Alps will also introduce an electric sedan.
Source: 36kr, Weibo
