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EV maker Nio gets regulative nod for 3rd factory in China, sources say

Electric car maker Nio has won approval to construct a third factory in China that would boost its total approved production capacity to 1 million vehicles, almost at par with Tesla's huge Shanghai plant, three individuals with knowledge of the matter said.

Tesla can push out 1.1 million cars per year from its Shanghai plant, its greatest production hub globally.

The latest approval for a plant with a 600,000 unit annual capability is a major win for Nio, offered China's state organizer has been cautious about waving through new EV production strategies since 2022 in the middle of overcapacity worries and slowing demand. Nio received an automobile manufacturing licence late in 2015.

Nio, the eighth most significant EV maker in China by sales, has began building and construction of the third plant - referred to as F3 - however it is not instantly clear when mass production from the website would start, the sources stated on condition of privacy as the matter is not yet public.

The F3 plant lies in Huainan city in eastern province Anhui and will mostly produce automobiles for Nio's recently released budget friendly vehicle brand name, Onvo, the people added.

Nio told that building and construction of the 3rd plant had started which it would have a capability of 100,000 units on a. one-shift basis. The expansion plan is targeted at meeting growing. need for Nio- and Onvo-branded cars and to produce newly. launched vehicles, the EV maker stated in a statement.

The capability of our existing plants won't suffice to fulfill. market need. There is no overcapacity with Nio, it added.

Nio did not react when asked whether the capability of the. F3 plant would be later broadened to 600,000 systems.

China's Ministry of Market and Information Technology, and. the National Development and Reform Commission did not react. to requests for remarks.

Nio launched the Onvo brand name in May, when it also unveiled. the Onvo L60 SUV with a price tag starting at 219,900 yuan. ($ 30,300), while Tesla's Design Y starts at 249,900 yuan in. China.

Nio, like a number of its peers, is looking to widen its. consumer base and boost sales with more affordable designs in the middle of a. bruising price competitors in China that has forced it to trim. workforce and delay long-term jobs that would not contribute. to monetary efficiency within 3 years.

WHAT OVERCAPACITY?

The relocation by regulators to approve brand-new EV capacity comes amid. global concerns about overcapacity in China's EV market, which. critics says stems from state-led aids.

Chinese officials too have in the previous issued overcapacity. warnings, however in April this year Beijing said that assertions of. excess capacity were groundless which China's EV production. system was just more competitive.

Nio's creator and CEO, William Li, has actually likewise protected the EV. industry, arguing the overcapacity issue is with foreign brands. that have actually seen their market share drop to 40% from 60% in China. over the past couple of years mainly due to their uncompetitive. services and products.

Attacks on China's industry with overcapacity is out of. politics. Let's do the mathematics! Li informed reporters in May, adding. that foreign brand names would have more than 5 million systems of. idled annual capability in China due to their market share loss.

Factory utilisation rates of significant Chinese firms producing. plug-in hybrids and pure EVs ranged from 33% to 111% in 2023. based upon a double-shift schedule, with BYD running at. 95% and Li Vehicle at 106% by including extra shifts,. according to data from China Merchants Bank International.

Nio logged the lowest rate of 33%, the information revealed.

(source: Reuters)