Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio will continue its expansion into the European market with the recently leaked ET5 wagon.
Images from a Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology filing, shared by Car News China, show the electric wagon, reportedly set to be unveiled at the Shanghai motor show in April ahead of a launch in both Europe and China later this year.
Despite no official announcement of plans to enter the Australian market, there is speculation that Nio could enter the local market by 2025.
The ET5 wagon closely resembles the ET5 sedan up front, with the same ‘flying wing’ grille, slim, angular LED headlights, a prominent sloped bonnet line, and a LiDAR sensor with cameras on the roof.
The wagon’s body is curvaceous like the sedan’s, and the same full-length LED taillight strip found on several Nio vehicles is also present on the ET5 wagon.
The wagon will reportedly share the same dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain as the ET5 sedan, with a total system output of up to 360kW.
The ET5 wagon will reportedly be offered with three battery options: 75kWh, 100kWh, and a new semi-solid state 150kWh.
ET5 wagon customers will also be able to benefit from Nio’s battery swap program.
Nio’s battery swapping model, which is called ‘Battery-as-a-Service’ (BaaS), allows owners to pay a monthly subscription fee that gives them access to a Power Swap station.
Drivers can quickly swap their discharged battery for a fully charged one in just a few minutes, reducing the worry of battery lifespan or outdated technology.
The ET5 wagon measures in at 4790mm long, 1960mm wide and 1499mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2888 mm.
This makes the station wagon 77mm longer and 57mm taller than a BMW 3 Series Touring.
Nio ET5 sedan
Nio will have one of the few electric station wagons in the European market with the ET5 wagon.
BMW is expected to launch the i5 Touring EV, its first electric station wagon, in 2024, and Audi is expected to launch a production version of its A6 Avant e-tron concept.
Other than the budget-priced MG 5 and premium Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, however, there’s nothing available at present.
The official name for the wagon model hasn’t been confirmed yet, but sources have told CarNewsChina that it will be ‘ET5 Touring’ to position it directly against brands such as BMW and Audi, while Chinese media has been referring to the model as the ET5 shooting brake.
Nio has previously announced its intentions to compete with the likes of Tesla, as well as established brands like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz as these legacy brands continue their EV expansion.
Nio hopes to be selling vehicles in more than 25 countries by 2025.
MORE: Brand overview: Nio
