NIO’s fifth-gen power swap station will go live around Christmas, shaving tens of seconds off swap time compared with the current fourth-gen platform.
NIO Radio’s latest episode of N Questions has delivered long-awaited updates on the Firefly brand. Michael, head of marketing for Firefly, addressed rising user expectations surrounding the upcoming limited-edition model and the company’s next-generation power swap station strategy.
First, plans for a “hard-top” Firefly—a request circulating among fans—have been shelved. Michael said a glass panoramic roof better suits the compact-car positioning, offering openness and light.
He added that the current model already achieves a high torsional rigidity of 37,500 N·m/deg, making additional reinforcement from a steel roof unnecessary, so the sunroof remains standard.
As for a convertible, he dismissed the idea for now, noting that “it’s not just about cutting off the roof.” Re-engineering the body structure would drive costs far beyond expected volumes.
Although an earlier poll showed strong enthusiasm, available resources do not support development of an open-top variant at this stage.
Instead of a traditional facelift, Firefly will pursue a “limited special edition” path. Michael confirmed that the special edition will officially debut on October 11, positioned “beyond the Nomad Mellowd Special Edition.”
Some units are already built, and future launches will be aligned with milestones such as the 2025 Beijing Auto Show.
Beyond product updates, NIO’s power swap station is set to enter its fifth-generation phase. Michael revealed that the first fifth-gen station will go live around Christmas near NIO’s headquarters, open to the public. It will serve as a real-world durability and compatibility testbed for Firefly and other new models.
Compared with the current fourth-gen platform, the new station will introduce a retractable VGA robotic arm, an expanded module bay and shave tens of seconds off swap time. After the Lunar New Year, 99% of newly built stations will switch to the fifth-gen format.
The rollout comes as NIO’s charging data shows swapping remains the dominant choice on highways. With the fifth-gen network scaling up, Firefly—as NIO’s smallest vehicle—will play a pivotal role in validating swap compatibility across configurations.
NIO delivered 5,775 Firefly vehicles in September 2025, up 33% month-on-month and setting a new volume record. Cumulative Firefly deliveries have reached 20,330 units.
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