Nio marks 10 years of UK-based engineering with new R&D centre

Nio has opened a new R&D centre in Witney to mark 10 years of engineering operations in Oxfordshire.

The 9,460-square-foot operation in Witney merges the Chinese firm’s previous UK facilities at Begbroke Science Park and Bicester Motion into a single unit.

The facility comprises a dedicated computer-aided engineering (CAE) workspace and vehicle laboratory. The site was designed to support closer collaboration within Nio’s UK engineering team and provide them with a bigger, more efficient base for future development work.

In 2016, Nio established its global R&D centre for performance and advanced concept engineering in Oxfordshire, making it the first Chinese carmaker to take on the ‘in Europe, for Europe’ approach to automotive production recently adopted by the likes of BYD and Zeekr.

The Oxfordshire site supported several of Nio’s global vehicle development programmes, from the EP9 supercar in 2016, through to its ET9 flagship, and its new Firefly compact EV.

At the R&D centre’s opening, Hui Zhang, the vice president for Nio Europe, said: “For a decade, our Oxfordshire team has been an integral part of Nio’s global R&D network, contributing to multiple vehicle programmes and engineering innovations across our global portfolio.

“As we celebrate this milestone, we thank the team for its dedication, expertise and contribution to Nio’s development over the past 10 years. The opening of our new Witney R&D centre reflects our long-term commitment to the UK, Europe and international collaboration in advancing smart electric mobility.”

Nio’s principal chief engineer, Danilo Teobaldi, added: “Bringing our virtual and physical UK engineering teams together in Witney will accelerate the development of innovations that improve the user experience.

“With new facilities, we can ensure Nio’s UK-based team continues to pioneer in areas such as class-leading Euro NCAP results for all three group brands, along with smart chassis system solutions for our global platforms.”

In addition to CAE, the new facility’s activities will span computational fluid dynamics (CFD), simulation, safety, Euro NCAP safety assessments, durability, handling, and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) developments.

Nio’s UK R&D operation is the European arm’s focal point for AI regulation and representation within the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) AI cluster. This is managed through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

SMMT chief director, Mike Hawes, believes that Nio’s latest investment reflects Britain’s position at the forefront of global EV development.

“This investment highlights the UK’s enduring strength as a centre of automotive collaboration and engineering excellence,” he commented. “Nio’s decision to consolidate its R&D activity here in a new, state-of-the-art facility also reflects the depth of British talent and expertise in next-generation vehicle technologies.

“It is a timely reminder that amid fierce global competition for investment, the UK can continue to attract and grow high-value innovation, supporting jobs, skills and the transition to zero-emission mobility.”