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Nio has added a 60 kWh battery option for the Firefly in China, increasing its stated CLTC range from 420 km to 560 km. Existing owners can upgrade through a battery swap, with pricing and eligibility depending on whether they bought the battery or lease it.
Nio has introduced a 60 kWh battery option for its Firefly electric car in China, lifting the model’s stated range to 560 km under the CLTC test cycle from 420 km. Existing customers can also switch to the larger pack through Nio’s battery-swap network, subject to different fees and conditions for battery owners and subscribers.
The new pack is made by CATL and has the same dimensions and weight as the Firefly’s existing 42 kWh battery, according to Nio. The company attributes the capacity increase to a change from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells to ternary lithium cells, which have higher energy density. The report does not provide separate independent test results for the new battery.
A new Firefly fitted with the 60 kWh battery starts at 136,800 yuan, equivalent to about €18,350 in the source report. Nio’s stated CLTC range rises from 420 km to 560 km. The report gives approximate WLTP equivalents of 340 km and 454 km respectively; these are conversions, not separate WLTP test figures cited for the Chinese-market car.
Customers who bought their Firefly with the battery can request a permanent upgrade no earlier than one year after purchase. The regular upgrade premium is 17,000 yuan, or about €2,280, and the pack can be replaced at a compatible fifth-generation Nio battery-swap station. Customers using Nio’s monthly battery lease can also move to the 60 kWh pack: the one-time service fee is 3,000 yuan, while the monthly payment increases from 399 to 599 yuan.
A Longer-Range Firefly Without a New Car
The upgrade gives Firefly buyers in China a way to gain more stated driving range without replacing the vehicle. For owners whose cars are compatible with the swap arrangement, a battery exchange may be a more direct route to the larger pack than selling the car and buying a new one. The option also makes the battery-swap network part of the model’s ownership proposition, rather than a service relevant only to new-car buyers.
The added capacity comes with a cost. Buyers who own their battery face a 17,000-yuan premium, while subscribers pay both a higher monthly lease rate and a service charge. Those amounts will matter to customers weighing the extra range against how often they drive and whether the larger pack’s practical benefit fits their use. The source gives the manufacturer’s range figures but does not establish how the pack performs in everyday driving.
The change is also a second product update within a year, following an increase in motor output from 105 kW to 120 kW, according to the report. Together, the updates show Nio continuing to revise the Firefly in China, though the battery announcement alone does not establish whether or when the larger pack will be offered in other markets.
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Two Firefly Updates in One Year
The Firefly is a small electric vehicle sold in China under Nio’s sub-brand and is also available in some European markets, according to the source report. Its original battery option in China was a 42 kWh pack. In spring 2026, Nio replaced the 105 kW motor with a 120 kW powertrain; the newly announced battery is the model’s next reported upgrade within the year.
The battery’s unchanged dimensions and weight are central to the swap offer: Nio says the 60 kWh unit fits the same form factor as the 42 kWh pack. The company’s fifth-generation swap stations are described as compatible with the Firefly. That compatibility makes a station-based exchange possible, but the announcement does not provide station availability or appointment details for every owner.
For early buyers, Nio is offering a points credit worth 2,000 yuan, about €270, under stated conditions: the customer must have ordered by October 22, 2026, and complete the swap by the end of 2027. A separate promotion for eligible first-time buyers who lease the battery uses a 1,000-yuan voucher to reduce the 3,000-yuan service fee to an effective 2,000 yuan.
“The 60 kWh battery has the same dimensions and weight as the previous 42 kWh battery.”
— Nio, as reported by electrive.com
Real-World Range and Market Availability
The announcement reports CLTC range figures, but does not provide real-world test results for the 60 kWh pack or explain how driving conditions affect the added range. It also does not specify charging-performance changes, the battery warranty terms after an upgrade, or whether the larger pack changes vehicle pricing outside the stated Chinese-market offer.
The source material does not confirm that the 60 kWh option or the upgrade programme will be offered in Europe or other markets where the Firefly is sold. It also does not list which swap stations can carry out the exchange, how long a swap takes, or whether every existing vehicle qualifies beyond the stated purchase and lease routes. Those details remain subject to clarification by Nio or its local sales and service channels.
Upgrade Window Runs Through 2027
Eligible early buyers who ordered by October 22, 2026, can receive the stated 2,000-yuan points credit if they complete the battery swap by December 31, 2027. Owners who bought their battery must also wait at least one year from the vehicle’s purchase date before upgrading. Lease customers should check the applicable service fee, monthly rate and voucher conditions before arranging a change.
The next practical details to watch are Nio’s guidance on booking swaps, station availability and battery coverage after installation. Any confirmation of sales or upgrade plans outside China would also clarify whether the change affects Firefly customers in other markets. For now, the confirmed offer and its listed prices apply to China.
Key Questions
What is the new Firefly battery capacity?
The new option is a 60 kWh CATL battery, replacing the existing 42 kWh pack as the larger-capacity choice in China.
How much range does the 60 kWh pack add?
Nio’s stated CLTC range rises from 420 km to 560 km. These are Chinese test-cycle figures, not a promise of real-world driving range.
Can existing Firefly owners upgrade?
Yes. Owners who bought their battery can request a permanent swap no earlier than one year after purchase. Monthly battery-lease customers can also switch, under separate fee and payment terms.
How much does an upgrade cost?
The regular premium for customers who own the battery is 17,000 yuan. For lease customers, the stated service fee is 3,000 yuan and the monthly payment rises from 399 to 599 yuan. A limited voucher may reduce the service fee for eligible first-time buyers.
Will the 60 kWh battery be available outside China?
The source report confirms the offer in China but does not confirm availability in Europe or other Firefly markets.
Source: electrive.com
