Latest news with #ET9
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ZF secures UK (Wales) government funding
ZF Automotive UK, a supplier of car parts to global brands, has been granted £432,000 from the Welsh Government's Economy Futures Fund to optimise its operations. This investment will help safeguard over 60 jobs at the company's Pontypool facility, which specialises in manufacturing brake callipers. The funding is set to modernise a production line dedicated to fulfilling a contract with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). This initiative will not only boost productivity but also provide ZF Automotive UK's workforce with valuable opportunities to acquire new skills pertinent to advanced manufacturing processes. ZF Automotive UK Operations director Steven McKenzie said: 'Our team in Pontypool is passionately working to continually improve our manufacturing operations, to ensure competitiveness in a challenging automotive sector. 'This funding will support our efforts to purchase equipment and tooling to secure new business, in addition to supporting our heating project to significantly improve our energy efficiency.' Moreover, the investment will facilitate the creation of apprenticeship and graduate positions, further contributing to the local economy and job market. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning Rebecca Evans said: 'ZF Automotive is a well established and important employer for Pontypool and the surrounding area with many long serving staff. "The funding will help the business decarbonise and optimise its operations, bringing highly sought after contracts with Jaguar Land Rover to Wales and upskilling staff as a result.' In addition to workforce development, ZF Automotive UK plans to utilise the funds to replace its outdated gas heating system, which has been in operation for over 50 years. The upgrade is expected to enhance energy efficiency at the site, leading to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions. ZF Friedrichshafen's sales for the fiscal year 2024 declined 11% from the previous year's €46.6bn to €41.4bn. The company said the decline was primarily due to the deconsolidation of its axle assembly product line, which was transferred to the ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules joint venture in April 2024. Looking ahead to 2025, ZF Group anticipates only weak economic growth in the eurozone and Germany, with vehicle markets potentially staying below previous year levels. In February, ZF Group announced that it had commenced series production of its state-of-the-art steer-by-wire system. It eliminates the need for a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and steering gear, is being implemented in Nio Inc's flagship ET9 model, a Chinese battery electric vehicle (BEV). "ZF secures UK (Wales) government funding" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nio Plans 2026 Launch for Flagship ES9 SUV
Nio (NIO, Financials) will launch its new flagship SUV, the ES9, in the first half of 2026, according to President Qin Lihong. This marks the electric vehicle maker's first public confirmation of the model. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NIO. The ES9 is expected to build on the ET9 sedans platform and feature Nios latest technology, including dual Shenji NX 9031 chips and the SkyRide chassis. The model will likely be built on the companys NT 3.0 architecture and exceed 5.2 meters in length. Nios current flagship SUV is the ES8, starting at RMB 498,000 ($69,167), while the ET9 sedandelivered for the first time in Marchstarts at RMB 788,000 ($109,430), including the battery. The ES9 joins a growing list of models under the Nio umbrella, which now includes nine variants. Qin also confirmed that Nios sub-brand, Onvo, will release two additional SUVsthe L90 and L80later this year. Investors may interpret the ES9s timing as a signal that Nio is doubling down on premium EV offerings amid rising domestic competition. Rumors had previously suggested a debut at the companys annual Nio Day event in December. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Nio Plans 2026 Launch for Flagship ES9 SUV
Nio (NIO, Financials) will launch its new flagship SUV, the ES9, in the first half of 2026, according to President Qin Lihong. This marks the electric vehicle maker's first public confirmation of the model. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with NIO. The ES9 is expected to build on the ET9 sedans platform and feature Nios latest technology, including dual Shenji NX 9031 chips and the SkyRide chassis. The model will likely be built on the companys NT 3.0 architecture and exceed 5.2 meters in length. Nios current flagship SUV is the ES8, starting at RMB 498,000 ($69,167), while the ET9 sedandelivered for the first time in Marchstarts at RMB 788,000 ($109,430), including the battery. The ES9 joins a growing list of models under the Nio umbrella, which now includes nine variants. Qin also confirmed that Nios sub-brand, Onvo, will release two additional SUVsthe L90 and L80later this year. Investors may interpret the ES9s timing as a signal that Nio is doubling down on premium EV offerings amid rising domestic competition. Rumors had previously suggested a debut at the companys annual Nio Day event in December. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NIO vs. TSLA: Which EV Stock Has More Charge for the Future?
For years, Tesla TSLA has been the face of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. Today, it's still a giant, with a staggering $1 trillion market cap and a growing focus on technology — from robotaxis to artificial intelligence. But the road ahead isn't as smooth as it once seemed. Rising competition, shifting political dynamics, and missed or delayed timelines have taken some shine off Tesla's once-unshakable dominance. On the other hand, there is NIO, Inc. NIO — often dubbed the 'Tesla of China'— which has been on its own wild ride. The company's market cap might be a fraction of Tesla's, at just over some $8 billion, and it's still not profitable. However, it operates in China, the world's largest and most EV-friendly market. And while challenges remain, NIO seems to be inching forward with a clearer focus and renewed energy. No doubt, Tesla is aiming big and positioning itself more like a tech powerhouse than just a carmaker. But NIO is also doubling down on the EV game in a supportive domestic environment. With U.S. President Trump's tough stance on EVs and shifting investor expectations, the race is far from over. Shares of both Tesla and NIO have declined year to date, underscoring the cautious mood around EV stocks. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Let's delve into the key drivers and challenges to assess which stock deserves a spot in your portfolio now. NIO may be a small player compared to global giant Tesla, but the Chinese EV maker is stepping up its game. Its growing vehicle lineup — including models like the ES6, ET5T, ES8, ET9 — is helping the company expand its footprint in the competitive electric vehicle landscape. But NIO isn't relying solely on its namesake brand to drive future growth. It has launched two sub-brands — ONVO, which targets the mainstream EV market, and Firefly, aimed at smaller premium vehicles. ONVO's first model, the L60, is already on the roads and receiving positive feedback. Two more ONVO vehicles, the L90 and a yet-to-be-named model, are set to hit the market later this year, potentially widening NIO's customer base. Firefly's first model commenced deliveries last month. In the first quarter of 2025, NIO delivered over 42,000 vehicles — a 40% jump year over year. Management aims to double deliveries in 2025, powered by new models and broader brand reach. The company's signature battery swap technology remains a key differentiator, with more than 3,200 stations and a new partnership with battery giant CATL to expand the network further. Vehicle margins are improving. The metric rose steadily through 2024, reaching 13.1% in the second half, and NIO is aiming for a 20% margin this year for its core brand. Still, challenges remain. NIO reported a net loss of more than $3 billion in 2024, and while management targets breakeven by the fourth quarter of this year, intense price competition in China and high operating costs pose a risk to that goal. Rising SG&A expenses and a stretched balance sheet—with shrinking cash reserves and high debt—add further pressure. Despite these hurdles, NIO's innovation, expanding portfolio, and access to China's massive EV market offer compelling reasons to watch the stock closely. Take a look at the consensus estimates for NIO's bottom line in 2025 and 2026. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Tesla's journey from EV pioneer to tech powerhouse has hit a bumpy patch. Once the undisputed leader of the EV race, the company is now grappling with slowing growth in its core business. Deliveries are down, competition is fiercer than ever, and Tesla's once-fresh lineup is beginning to show its age. In the first quarter of 2025, Tesla delivered 336,000 vehicles—a 13% year-over-year drop. Amid escalating global tariffs and rising uncertainty around its China operations, the company chose not to reaffirm its earlier forecast of modest growth for the year and said it would revisit its 2025 delivery targets in the second-quarter update. Complicating matters is the growing discomfort around CEO Elon Musk's political strides, which raised doubts about his focus on the company's core operations. Nonetheless, its energy generation and storage segment, while still small, is gaining momentum and delivering higher margins than the EV business. Financially, Tesla remains strong. It ended the first quarter of 2025 with a hefty $37 billion in cash and a low debt-to-capital ratio of just 7%, giving it room to fund future bets. And those bets are big. Tesla is preparing to launch its first robotaxi service in Austin by next month—a move that could mark the company's most meaningful step into full autonomy yet. It's also building out the Cybercab, a two-seater self-driving vehicle expected in 2026, and continues to develop Optimus, its humanoid robot. These ambitious projects could define Tesla's next era. But they also come with high execution risk. For now, the company's challenge is to steady its EV business while proving that its big ideas can turn into big results. Whether that comeback begins in 2025 is the question investors are asking. Take a look at the consensus estimates for TSLA's bottom line in 2025 and 2026. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research At this stage, neither NIO nor Tesla appears to be a compelling buy. But if you're choosing between the two, NIO looks like the better name to keep on your radar in the near term. NIO shows some promise with improving vehicle margins and an expanding brand portfolio, though it remains unprofitable and faces stiff competition and financial constraints. Investors would be wise to wait for NIO's upcoming quarterly results next week to assess whether it can maintain its delivery guidance and continue margin progress. Tesla, meanwhile, is betting big on future tech with its robotaxi rollout. But with shares already up 35% in a month—reflecting much of the hype—this may be an opportune time for existing investors to book profits. It's best to stay on the sidelines until Tesla's robotaxi launch proves it can meet expectations. Tesla currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), while NIO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) : Free Stock Analysis Report NIO Inc. (NIO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Motor Trend
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Is the Swanky Nio ET9 We Drove China's S-Class Sport-Utility Sedan?
We just spent a week with Chinese EV startup Nio, driving products that bracket its range: The compact Firefly EV, aimed squarely at Mini, the family crossover Onvo L60, perhaps China's strongest Tesla Model Y competitor, and now the flagship ET9, a giant-slaying 'land jet' with an SUV-like ride height, aimed squarely at the often chauffeur-driven Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series. 0:00 / 0:00 All week we were struck by similarities between Nio and Tesla. Both have spent a great deal of capital assuaging buyers' range and charging anxiety—Tesla with its Supercharger network and Nio with Power Swap battery-swapping stations and chargers. Both companies place strong emphasis on the digital realm with their engineering workforces heavily skewed toward software development, each favors a centralized computing electrical architecture, and both companies design and build their own AC induction and permanent-magnet electric motors. Nio was founded in 2014, six years after Elon Musk became Tesla CEO as the Roadster went on sale. Its first product, the ES8 large luxury SUV, arrived in 2018, followed closely by a string of upscale sedans, wagons, and SUVs. Has this young company learned to walk well enough to try running with the executive sedan big dogs? Gravitas Dimensionally, the ET9 has presence, splitting the length difference between the ultimate Benz and BMW sedans on a wheelbase about an inch and a half longer. It's also way wider and taller than both, and the wheel centers remain upright as the wheels turn, just like on a Rolls-Royce (and Volkswagen GTI). Nio head of design Kris Tomasson left BMW to join Nio as one of the 12 original employees. He describes the unconventional ET9 as 'a car I always wanted to do. I wanted to take the best [aspects] of SUVs—command seating position, maximum interior volume—and put them into a more sedanlike profile.' He also notes that his team's unsolicited design led to the ET9's development—there had been no product-planning mandate for it. The grille-less nose, fastback (not hatchback) shape, and higher ride height separate the ET9 from the establishment players, but will they separate rich people from six-figure money? Trailblazing Technology Flagships give manufacturers an opportunity to show off and boast, and the ET9 affords many such opportunities, most of which pay off where it counts most: comfort, convenience, and safety. World-first cloud-connected electrohydraulic active air suspension: Hailing from Boston-based ClearMotion (in which Nio is invested), SkyRide suspends the vehicle weight on air springs, integrating a high-speed hydraulic pump at each corner that can lift each wheel up over a bump or press it down into a hole through 4 inches of travel very quickly—especially when traversing roads previously mapped to the cloud by other Nio vehicles. World-first 925V electrical architecture capable of 600-kW or 765A charging: OK, it's only 1 volt more than Lucid, and granted, there is currently no place to charge at 600 kW or 765A, but the ET9 is well future-proofed. World-class AQUILA ADAS sensing suite: One ultralong-range high-precision lidar, two wide-field-of-view side lidars, one 4D imaging radar, seven 8-megapixel plus four 3-megapixel cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, one V2X route-synergy sensing unit, one high-precision inertial vehicle positioning unit, plus driver monitoring and capacitive steering-wheel sensing. World-class ADAM centralized computing cluster: Communication, cabin, driving, and vehicle control domains are centralized, running a SkyOS full-vehicle operating system on two Shenji NX9031 chips designed and manufactured by Nio, not by Nvidia or Qualcomm. The various vehicle sensors report to zone controllers that connect to ADAM. Safety-certified steer-by-wire: Nio and a consortium of Chinese manufacturers interested in offering steer-by-wire developed a certification program to ensure triple-layer redundancy. They are: Nio and a consortium of Chinese manufacturers interested in offering steer-by-wire developed a certification program to ensure triple-layer redundancy. They are: First layer: Having two of everything Second layer: The components and programming of the different pieces in layer one are produced by different suppliers and by different teams to reduce likelihood of similar failure Third layer: The vehicle is programmed to yaw the car using the brakes if all of the above fails. World-first W-pin stator winding: Much like Lucid's woven stator-winding method, Nio's shaping of the wire allows it to be rolled up and inserted into the stator housing, matching the copper density of hairpin windings while requiring 95 percent less welding. And by using 12 wires, Nio achieves three phases plus a neutral, so the stator can serve as the inductor, simplifying the charging hardware. It's fed by an in-house designed and built 1,200V silicon-carbide power module that boasts 1,315 kW/L power density. Confident Power Flagships aren't about railgun acceleration, but if the owner's power and position provoke a pursuit, they may need to be agile and quick enough to evade. The Nio ET9 fits a 456-hp permanent-magnet motor at the rear spinning 12.65:1 gearing and a 241-hp AC induction unit in front with 10.18:1 drive, combining for 697 hp. Both motors package their drive reduction and differentials concentrically, as Lucid does. In a 5,250-pound car, Nio reckons that's good for a 3.8-second blast to 62 mph, which aligns with our experience. And it's exceptionally good at wafting away from a stop with g-loading that wouldn't spill a drink resting on the rear tray table. Creature Comforts Naturally, the whole interior is swathed in stitched, quilted, and ambiently lit splendor. The 16-point massage system is notable for offering Chinese, Swedish, and Thai-style massages including hot stone. And in use, they do indeed feel more like stones or human knuckles than they do pulsating air bladders. There's a safe behind the rear armrest and a slide-out drawer that can be cooled or heated to between 28 and 131 degrees. Naturally, there are screens aplenty—most of them OLED high-resolution, high-contrast, cinema-color jobs—though the de rigueur cross-car front screen is quite thin—just tall enough to give the front passenger vital information like karaoke lyrics. Note that you can't even see the vents. They're just below that cross-car screen, with the Coandă effect keeping the air attached to the curved surface so it flows horizontally out. They're aimable via the screen, and there's an oscillating option, but mostly the intention is that they feel like central air—not a fan blowing on anybody. The central infotainment and rear screens all support Dolby Vision with Atmos, and the suspension can contribute 4D Sensurround realism to certain movies while parked. Nio Lyra 8.2.4.8 Sound This 2,800-watt 35-speaker system boasts a world-first rear center-channel speaker, as rear ears are too far away from the center dash speaker. The system employs eight channels, two subwoofers, four Dolby Atmos pillar-mounted surround speakers, and eight headrest speakers (which contribute most of the active-noise-cancellation sound programming in addition to music). The sound clearly rivals that of any other high-end automotive system we've sampled. Stiff and Safe Nio claims its 90-ish percent aluminum structure, which employs megacastings front and rear, ultra-high-strength steel where it's best suited, and a magnesium cross-car beam, has a torsional rigidity of 52,600 Nm/degree. That bests the current S Class' claimed 40,500. And a rare safety feature enabled by the active suspension is its ability to instantly elevate the rear or side of the vehicle in advance of a collision. Battery, Charging, and Range The ET9 gets a 100-kWh battery pack, which is good for 404 miles of CLTC (the highly optimistic Chinese test cycle) range. Heaven knows how quickly it will charge if and when the 600-kW charging it supports becomes available; presumably 10 minutes or less. But like every other Nio, it can swap a depleted battery for a charged one in as little as 3 minutes, using Nio's network of 3,275 Power Swap stations. Nio also offers buyers the option of battery-as-a-service leasing, which discounts the purchase price by $17,920 in exchange for a $179 monthly battery lease payment. So How Does the ET9 Ride and Drive? We drove it for a day and were shuttled in the back for the rest of the week, which was quite a treat—especially after we learned enough Chinese to control our massaging seats. The suspension does an admirable job of smoothing out imperfections, but they're never completely erased, and there's room to improve the sound isolation (or cancelation) when hitting bumps. SkyRide is particularly great at managing bridge transitions, most of which it can anticipate thanks to cloud connectivity, so it goes up on its tiptoes just ahead of the transition, absorbs it, then settles down. Quick steering, acceleration, or braking inputs result in very little roll, pitch, or dive. The steer-by-wire system seems easier to acclimate to than the Tesla Cybertruck's partly because its ratio is slightly slower (ranging from 6:1 to 14:1 versus CT's 5:1–12:1), and because the wheel seems to turn farther at low speeds (240 degrees lock to lock). Here, as with the CT, steering the rear wheels up to 8.3 degrees gives this big car a tight 35.8-foot turn circle, allowing U-turns in just three lanes and greatly reducing the stress of navigating through tight parking garages. It seemed exceptionally easy to drive the ET9 as a chauffeur would, executing martini-slosh-proof acceleration and braking, as our chauffeur for the rest of the week, Tiny, continually demonstrated while we took advantage of the 16-point massage, the seven sunshades, and the G650-jet-inspired overhead console that subdivides the panoramic roof (designer Tomasson also did a stint at Gulfstream). ADAS Impressions Limited Nio Assisted Driving (NAD) and Navigate on Pilot Plus (NOP+) are a subscription service costing $95 and $53 per month, but a serious crash involving a vehicle navigating on an ADAS system the week before our trip had everybody pausing their level-two-plus systems, so our ET9 basically just had cruise control with lane change functionality. So AQUILA's lidars and cameras were mostly along for the ride with us. What Does All This Flagship Gear Cost? Battery lessees can get into a Nio ET9 for as little as $92,400 or pay $110,320 for a black or white car with batteries Included. Five colors cost $1,400, while Midnight Ceramic Blue (which gets 60 hours of hand polishing) costs $4,200. Beyond those choices, there are some extra-cost wheels and brake caliper colors, but everything else is pretty much included. With the price of an analogous Mercedes EQS or BMW i7 spanning from about $145,000–$185,000, the ET9's value proposition should seem irreproachable in China and might even tolerate quite a bit of tariff inflation, but U.S. sales prospects are exceedingly slim. Might Americans Ever Get Any of This? Probably not. But Nio holds no exclusive rights to SkyRide, and we're eager for this American technology to hit our highways with another OEM. And a technological alliance between Nio and McLaren's holding company could put some other Nio technology in American hands that can swing a McLaren budget. Otherwise, we have to hope local OEMs are buying, tearing down, and reverse-engineering the ET9's coolest stuff.
