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NIO’s president Qin Lihong used the Ledao L80 launch to argue for more realistic high-end pricing in China, criticizing inflated import-markups that push some “ultra-luxury” cars well above their original-market costs. He framed NIO’s strategy as leveraging local R&D and manufacturing to offer premium value without excessive markups, citing peers like BYD and Huawei. The new Ledao L80 large intelligent SUV is priced from ¥242,800 (battery-rental options lower), with Qin defending a modest ¥3,000 drop from presale as honest pricing rather than gimmicky inflation-and-discount tactics. The L80 emphasizes spaciousness, advanced ADAS and AI features, and safety-focused design.
NIO-backed Leador (乐道) will unveil and begin presales for the new Leador L60 at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Auto Show on May 29. NIO senior VP and Leador president Shen Fei announced the launch; the L60 will adopt NIO’s in-house 5nm automotive-grade driving chip “Dimensity NX9031,” the company’s world model for autonomous driving, and a vehicle-wide OS called SkyOS·Tianshu. The L60 receives minor front-end design updates and continues as a mid-size SUV available in single- and dual-motor versions with 60kWh/85kWh battery options and multiple range figures. The move highlights deeper vertical integration of chips, software, and AD stacks in Chinese EVs.
NIO's Le Dao L80 deliveries show over 90% of first buyers chose the BaaS battery‑rental purchase option, signaling strong consumer uptake of battery‑as‑a‑service pricing. The brand also reported trim and option preferences: 62% picked the Max+ trim, 58% chose a black exterior, 70%+ selected a brown interior, and 55%+ opted for 21-inch wheels; more than 70% added electric side steps. The L80, launched May 15, is positioned as an intelligent five-seat flagship SUV with prices from ¥242,800 (full purchase) or ¥156,800 with BaaS. It offers lidar and vision ADAS variants (Dimensity NX9031 or NVIDIA OrinX), large infotainment and premium audio, underscoring NIO's tech and flexible ownership strategies.
NIO president Qin Lihong said many so-called ultra-luxury cars shouldn’t cost over ¥1 million, arguing import taxes and markups drive prices far above original-market levels. Speaking after the launch of the Ledao L80, Qin noted Chinese-made vehicles benefit from local R&D and manufacturing, lower costs, and avoidance of hefty import taxes and freight—examples include cars that sell for €50,000 in Europe but over ¥1 million in China. He praised domestic high-end efforts by companies like BYD and Huawei and said NIO’s 9-series aims to normalize high-end value in China rather than overpriced luxury. Qin framed the shift as a maturity of local supply and changing consumer value.
NIO’s LeDao brand launched the L80 large five-seat intelligent SUV with prices from ¥242,800 to ¥279,800 (battery-rental options ¥156,800–¥193,800). Co-founder and president Qin Lihong said the final price is only ¥3,000 below the pre-sale figure because inflating an initial price then cutting it by tens of thousands is pointless; the L80’s pricing meets margin expectations. The L80 emphasizes interior space (5145mm length, 3110mm wheelbase, up to 2,840L total storage), large frunk, multiple storage/accessory kits, advanced acoustics and noise control, and safety features. It offers lidar and vision ADAS options (Dimensity NX9031 or NVIDIA OrinX), an AI-focused SkyOS, and competitive range and performance specs.