China's First Full-Size SUV With Battery Swap and a Massive Frunk

Understanding NIO Inc. and Its Brands

NIO Inc. is a prominent Chinese electric vehicle (EV) company established in 2017, based in Shanghai. The company owns three distinct brands: NIO, Onvo, and Firefly. Each brand targets different market segments to cater to a wide range of consumers.

NIO is positioned as the mid-high end and high-end brand, launched in 2016. It offers models with price ranges from $42K to $113K. Onvo, on the other hand, is the mid-market brand, introduced in 2024, with models priced between $26K and $39K. Lastly, Firefly is the budget brand, launched in 2025, targeting affordability with prices ranging from $16.7K to $17.5K.

In June 2025, NIO Inc. delivered a total of 24,925 cars in China. This included 14,593 units for NIO, 6,400 for Onvo, and 3,932 for Firefly. These numbers highlight the company's growing presence in the Chinese automotive market, where there are currently 107 car brands. In May 2025, NIO ranked 33rd, Onvo 49th, and Firefly 60th. The company aims for Onvo to eventually achieve a monthly sales volume of around 20,000 units.

NIO’s Battery-Swapping Technology

One of NIO Inc.'s most notable features is its battery-swapping technology. This innovative system allows users to swap batteries in just 3–5 minutes, fully automated. The process involves the car driving itself into the station, swapping the battery, and exiting autonomously. Each station is equipped with multiple cameras and radar systems to guide the vehicle. The entire process remains connected via the cloud over a 5G network.

This system has gained a cult following in China, with some owners completing long journeys using only swap stations. NIO Inc. operates 3,400 swapping stations in China, with 2,048 available for Onvo drivers. Onvo provides a real-time map on its website showing the number of swaps, making it easy for users to plan their routes.

Swapping is not free; users pay for each swap and an additional fee for the energy used in the returned battery. Despite this cost, the convenience and speed of battery swapping have made it a popular feature among EV owners.

Introducing Onvo: A Mid-Market Electric Vehicle Brand

Onvo is NIO’s mid-market electric vehicle brand, designed for young families. The name “Onvo” is derived from “On Voyage,” and its Chinese name, 乐道 (Lèdào), translates to “Path to Happiness.” This reflects the brand’s vision of creating happiness on every path traveled with family.

Onvo launched its first vehicle, the L60 SUV-coupe, in September 2024. The brand has since introduced the Onvo L90, a large electric SUV that emphasizes space, style, and functionality.

The Onvo L90: Spacious, Stylish, and Frunk-Focused

The Onvo L90 is a full-size electric SUV with a clean, functional design that avoids unnecessary frills. Its front is sleek and grille-less, featuring slim upper LED lights and rectangular lower headlamps. The side profile is simple and elegant, marked by a single shoulder line, flush door handles, and blacked-out pillars that create a “floating roof” effect.

A chrome strip runs along the top edge of the side windows, with additional chrome accents on the bumpers and lower doors. The darkened taillights stand out with an unusual kink at the corner, extending into the rear fenders. The L90 is equipped with 255/55 R20 tires at the front and 275/55 R20 at the rear, complemented by bling-style 15-spoke alloy aeroblade wheels.

Interior: A Luxury Lounge

The “Urban Oasis” interior is all about space and luxury. It features six Napa-leather seats and plenty of aluminum and wood trim. Front and center is a massive 17.2-inch 3K touchscreen, complemented by a 35-inch AR-HUD. The center tunnel includes two air-cooled 50W wireless phone chargers, cooled and heated cup holders, and storage in the armrest and beneath the tunnel. To showcase the size of the storage space, Onvo even includes a tissue box.

The second row offers two ultra-wide captain’s chairs, each equipped with tray tables, armrests, leg rests, and side storage compartments. Seat controls are placed on the door panel just below the window, enhancing the premium feel. Doors open with the push of a button, eliminating traditional door handles.

The digital voice assistant & chatbot, Xiaole, recognizes and remembers family members, up to 20 faces, and creates profiles for each person. It can also order stuff online, edit text or spoken language files, and answer complicated questions. Xiaole looks like a golden circle with a wave in the middle, moving when it talks.

Passengers in the second row enjoy a 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted entertainment screen, controlled from a panel between the front seats. The system includes karaoke, movies, music, social media, and access to Onvo’s app store. The computing power for the cabin’s infotainment comes from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip. Between the front seats is an 8-inch rear screen. Below that is a 0.31 cubic foot refrigerator.

Flexible Interior and Innovative Features

The interior of the Onvo L90 is highly flexible. The front seats can recline fully backward to create a bed-like space. The front passenger seat can also fold forward completely, giving the right-side second-row passenger limo-style legroom. Additionally, the second-row seats recline 38°—perfect for naps or camping, though only if the third row is unoccupied.

The Frunk: A Unique Selling Point

Onvo has gone all-in on one feature: the frunk. According to Onvo’s website and social media, about 90% of their L90 marketing is frunk-related. The frunk is 240 liters (8.47 cubic feet) in size, large enough to fit an unfolded baby stroller. It opens down to the bumper and is 23.6 inches wide, making loading and unloading easy. The frunk opens automatically with a knock on the hood and has a soft-close.

Standard frunk equipment includes pillows and cushions to turn it into a cozy sofa—big enough for one adult or two kids. There are shallow cup holders on both sides so you can enjoy a coffee while admiring your frunk. It also includes luggage hooks, a luggage net, and a drain hole. However, there’s one oversight: no power outlet in or near the frunk.

Platform, Power, and Battery Tech

The Onvo L90 is based on NIO’s NT 3.0 platform with a 900V architecture. This platform also underpins the NIO ET9 and the new NIO ES8. The L90 is a large machine with dimensions of 202.5/78.6/69.5 and a 122.4 wheelbase. Onvo offers two powertrains: a single-motor, RWD version with 456 hp/295 ft-lbs, and a dual-motor, AWD version with 590 hp/395 ft-lbs. Both versions have a range of 376 miles (605 km) and 354 miles (570 km), respectively.

ADAS and Color Options

The Onvo L90 comes with basic L2 ADAS, featuring 26 sensors, including 11 cameras, 14 ultrasonic radars, and a 4D millimeter-wave radar. The computing power comes from an Nvidia Drive Orin X chip with 254 TOPS.

Color names are a big thing in China, and Onvo’s color options are poetic. They include Cloud Gold, Rock Ridge Brown, Snow Peak White, Chenhui Silver, and Jingyue black. For example, Cloud Gold was inspired by the magnificent scene of the rising sun rising from the sea level in Penglai Pavilion.

Pricing and Availability

Pricing for the Onvo L90 is complex, with options to buy the car outright or go for Battery as a Service (BaaS). The outright buying price of the RWD version is 279.900 yuan, which converts to $39K. With BaaS, the price drops to 193.900 yuan or $27K. The monthly BaaS subscription fee is expected to be around 1000 yuan ($140) per month. The price of the AWD version is yet to be announced, but deliveries will start in August.