Nio’s ambitions continue to grow. In parallel with the planned launch of two new brands, the Chinese manufacturer now seems to have views on the world of utility. He has just invested in the capital of the Chinese start-up Newrizon.
Until now, the utility vehicle market had remained largely unaffected by the arrival of Chinese manufacturers. The utility market in China is mainly made up of fairly rustic vehicles, which do not necessarily correspond to the bulk of the European market.
But things could change. In recent months, new players have been active in this market. This is particularly the case for Geely with Farizon, but also for several start-ups. One of the most promising could also be Newrizon. The start-up was founded in 2020 by Charles Huang. He was previously vice-president of Nio in charge of the development of batteries, motors, control electronics and autonomous driving…
Last year, Newrizon launched the EC1. A first stage of electrification based on an existing truck. The next step is called iC1. Presented as a prototype last year, it should be marketed this year. This is a completely new model of compact truck, for which Newrizon promises advanced semi-autonomous driving capabilities. And the third model will be the iV1, an all-new electric van.
Entry of Nio
To finance the development and production of its latest models, Newrizon continues to raise funds. During the last operation, a new shareholder entered the scene: Nio. An entry which nevertheless remains limited, since it is for the moment only 100 million yuan (13.7 million euros) provided by Nio Capital. But a rather symbolic entry, because it could mark the turn of the manufacturer towards this new universe which is the utility. And ultimately make Newrizon its fourth brand?
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