Nio Adds 3 Electric Drive Production Lines With Annual Capacity Of 1 Million Units

Nio has added three electric drive system (EDS) production lines in preparation for future capacity expansion, particularly following the launch of the Alps sub-brand.

Comau, an Italian automation specialist, delivered flexible EDS automated assembly lines to Nio, allowing the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker's third-generation induction motors and permanent magnet synchronous motors to be co-produced on the lines, according to an October 11 statement from the Stellantis Group.

“The three additional production lines will have an annual capacity of 1 million EDSs, with two of the lines set to begin mass production this year and the other expected to reach mass production by October 2024”, Comau said.

The EDSs will be installed in Nio's electric sedans, coupes, and SUVs, as well as some pure electric models from Nio's sub-brand Alps, according to the Italian company. All current Nio models are equipped with dual electric motors, implying that one million electric drive systems can meet the needs of 500,000 vehicles.

The first Alps model will be released in the second half of next year, and the first pilot test vehicle has already rolled off the line, according to William Li, Nio's founder, chairman, and CEO, during an earnings call on August 29. According to a July 25 report by CNEV, Nio will add a single-motor model option to Alps' first model to increase the brand's strategic flexibility.

According to the report, Alps' first model will be a sedan, and its single-motor version will feature a new generation of motors that Nio develops and manufactures in-house, primarily for size and cost optimisation reasons.

According to the Italian company, Comau's EDS assembly lines delivered to Nio have an average automation rate of more than 80%, with a target cycle time of 60 seconds per line.

Comau also mentioned that the three lines cover the main processes, which include the motor assembly line, the gearbox general assembly line, the inverter general assembly line, and the EO test line.