TLDR
- Nio stock up 28% since July on L90 SUV success and global expansion news
- J.P. Morgan raises NIO price target to $4.80 from $3.06 following strong sales
- Company enters Costa Rica (first Americas market), Singapore, and Uzbekistan
- L90 SUV priced competitively at RMB 280,000 against Li Auto and XPeng models
- New L80 model planned for Q4 2025 with ES9 SUV refresh coming Q1 2026
Nio stock (NIO) gained 1.9% in premarket trading Monday after surging 8.1% Friday. The Chinese electric vehicle maker announced major expansion plans while analysts upgraded price targets.
The EV company will enter three new markets in 2025-2026. Costa Rica marks Nio’s first Americas expansion, partnering with Horizontes Cielo Azul Movilidad, the country’s largest electric vehicle distributor.
Singapore operations launch in 2026 through Wearnes Automotive partnership. This introduces Nio’s first right-hand drive model, the Firefly small EV.
Uzbekistan entry comes via Abu Sahiy Motors, marking Nio’s Central Asian market debut. The partner has strong automotive, logistics, and real estate foundations.
L90 SUV Drives Stock Performance
J.P. Morgan analyst Nick Lai raised Nio’s price target 57% to $4.80 per share. The upgrade follows excitement around the ONVO brand’s L90 SUV launch.
The large 6-7 seat SUV starts at RMB 280,000, or RMB 190,000 with battery-as-a-service. This pricing directly competes with Li Auto’s L6, XPeng’s G9, and Xiaomi’s SU7.
Few Chinese rivals offer large BEV SUVs under RMB 300,000, giving L90 competitive advantages. The model helped drive Nio stock’s 28% surge since July.
Year-to-date gains remain modest at 2%, reflecting EV sector volatility. However, recent momentum builds on new product excitement.
Upcoming Models and Financial Outlook
Nio plans launching the L80 mid-size SUV in Q4 2025 or early 2026. Timing depends on L90 order momentum and market demand.
The ES8 large SUV gets refreshes while ES9 arrives Q1 2026. These updates could sustain sales growth momentum.
J.P. Morgan increased 2025 and 2026 volume forecasts by 3% and 13% respectively. Higher sales should improve margins and reduce Q4 2025 losses to RMB 713 million.
Despite upgrades, Lai maintains Neutral rating citing volatile track record and competitive landscape. Wall Street consensus remains Hold with $4.62 average price target.
New market offerings include models from Nio, ONVO, and Firefly brands. Executive Chris Chen emphasized partnering with experienced local distributors for efficient market entry.
