NIO officially launched its ES8 SUV in Norway and began user delivery in late September. NIO House: Oslo opened to the public on October 1.

NIO will adopt a global pricing strategy, and after adjusted for local taxes, logistics, and operating costs, the ES8 carries a starting price tag of NOK 609,000 (~$70,000) with the standard battery (75 kWh) and NOK 679,000 (~$78,000) with the long-range battery (100 kWH). The ES8 boasts a WLTP range of 500 km (310 miles) with the larger battery.

NIO also features Battery as a Service (BaaS) in Norway; BaaS includes comprehensive long-term service and maintenance solutions such as vehicle-battery suspension and battery subscription, and with NIO’s chargeable, swappable, and upgradeable batteries, represents a breakthrough and disruption in automotive technology and business circles. Baas users have the option of purchasing the car without the battery and simply subscribing to a slew of battery capacity services by paying a simple monthly fee. BaaS addresses problems that have long afflicted the EV industry such as battery degradation, inflexible capacity upgrades, and unreliable resale value. BaaS subscribers can look forward to using the NIO Power Swap network and flexible battery upgrades, and users who choose the standard-range battery can enjoy a retail price reduced by 90,000 NOK (~$10,000) with a monthly subscription fee of about 1,400 NOK ($162) per month, while long-range battery users may look forward to a monthly savings of 1,999 NOK ($231) per month.

NIO plans to build about twenty Power Swap stations in Norway by the end of 2022 that will cover Norway’s five largest cities and main roads. The first station will be functional by the end of October 2021.

NIO House—located in Oslo—is an ultramodern building of 2,100 sq. meters with a two-story structure that features a café, library, forum, lab, living room, and entertainment options exclusive to NIO customers. In October, NIO’s Service and Delivery Center also opens in Oslo and features vehicle delivery services, mobile service fleet, maintenance and repair options, and car pick-up and delivery service.

“Today marks a significant moment in the history of NIO,” says NIO European CEO Alexander Schwarz.

“Today the very first European users have the opportunity to experience what it means to be part of the NIO community. Norway is our starting point of our journey in Europe and beyond, and our vision is clear: to provide our users with seamless and worry-free services as well as supreme and joyful user experiences. We offer to be their friend and partner on their personal journey to a brighter and more sustainable future. From our NIO Houses, such as the first one in Oslo, through to our battery swap stations, our worry-free Battery-as-a-Service subscription models and our convenient online services, Being part of the NIO community will bring joy, friendship and meaningful interaction.”