Thonburi Group joins forces with NIO to enter the premium electric vehicle market, launching the Firefly electric car equipped with world-class technology.
Mr. Ratthaphon Wiriyapan, CEO of Thonburi Group, stated that as a subsidiary of Thonburi Group and the importer and distributor of the premium electric vehicle brand NIO in Thailand, they officially launched the brand and revealed the first right-hand drive electric vehicle, the Firefly. This 100% electric premium city car is designed to meet the lifestyle needs of modern urban dwellers under the concept "Freedom to Glow" — freedom in every journey, moving forward with confidence.
This collaboration represents a fusion of strengths between the global automotive technology leader NIO and Thonburi Group's 85 years of expertise to elevate Thailand's electric vehicle standards. They aim to offer Thai customers a new lifestyle electric vehicle choice, with Firefly set for official launch at Motor Show 2026.
This partnership is more than just launching a new brand in Thailand; it combines NIO's global vision with Thonburi Group's expertise to advance Thailand's electric vehicle industry. NIO is a global technology company building a future ecosystem integrating energy, software, and artificial intelligence to set new driving standards. We firmly believe Thailand has the potential and readiness.
Starting with the NIO Firefly to build a new customer base among urban and younger consumers, they plan to expand into higher-level electric vehicle markets. With nearly a century of automotive industry experience and a strong dealer and after-sales network, Thonburi Group is committed to establishing a solid foundation for NIO's stable growth and jointly setting new standards for premium electric vehicles in Thailand long-term.
Firefly: Freedom to Glow — freedom in every journey, moving forward with confidence.
Firefly is positioned as a Tech Premium Compact EV, a compact electric car fully embodying NIO's premium DNA. The name Firefly and brand logo are inspired by the firefly, symbolizing the freedom of modern urban living, expressing movement, individuality, and an inner light representing the creative power of young urbanites worldwide who stand out in their own way.
Agile performance, enjoyable driving on every city route.
Firefly is built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform focusing on being compact outside, spacious inside, with brand DNA characterized as Vivid, Thoughtful, and Solid. It offers high agility with three driving modes: ECO, Comfort, and Sport, supporting diverse usage. It features a tight turning radius of 4.75 meters, rear-wheel drive (RWD), front MacPherson strut suspension,
and a rear independent multi-link suspension that absorbs shocks and provides stable, smooth control on all road conditions. It delivers a maximum power of 105 kilowatts, peak torque of 200 newton-meters, a top speed of 150 km/h, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds. Equipped with a 42.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, it can travel up to 400 kilometers (NEDC standard), supports DC fast charging from 10% to 80% in 30 minutes, and features V2L functionality supplying up to 3.68 kilowatts to external electrical devices.
Small But Big: a premium city car packed with full functions and technology.
Firefly stands out with a design that perfectly blends premium style and practicality. The sides feature aerodynamic design with smooth curves conveying dynamic energy even when stationary. The front is distinguished by the signature Trio Lights headlights, a hallmark of the brand's design.
At the rear, the Trio Lights signature continues for design continuity from front to back. The roof includes a panoramic sunroof that lets in natural light and features UV filtering for a bright, airy cabin. The second-row seats accommodate three passengers with generous legroom and headroom, and can be split-folded 40:60 to expand cargo space.
Versatile storage space all around.
Firefly considers practical use with a large 335-liter rear trunk capacity, expandable to 1,253 liters when folding the rear seats. It has the largest front trunk (frunk) in its class at 92 liters, storage under the front passenger seat, and a large 29-liter compartment under the rear seats.
Additional accessories include magnetic cup holders for convenience on every trip. The front seats offer electric adjustment, cooling ventilation, and massage functions, enhancing comfort on all journeys.
Comprehensive intelligent technology.
Firefly is equipped with NIO’s exclusive intelligent operating system, Aster, supporting full online software updates (OTA). It includes numerous driver assistance technologies such as automatic parking supporting both perpendicular and parallel spots without gear changes, adaptive cruise control with distance maintenance, and automatic lane changing on highways. It delivers a premium digital experience through a simple, responsive interface with a 13.2-inch central multitouch screen.
Features include two-finger swipe controls for temperature and volume, an anti-glare, fingerprint-resistant screen visible in all lighting conditions, Apple CarPlay and Spotify support, and a 14-speaker 7.1 surround sound system delivering 640 watts with Dolby Atmos technology for immersive sound at night. The cabin features ambient lighting adjustable to 256 colors that pulse to music rhythms, creating a lively atmosphere on every trip.
Firefly has earned 5-star safety ratings from both C-NCAP and Euro NCAP, reinforcing confidence and safety with internationally recognized standards.
Mr. Daniel Jin, Vice President of NIO Inc. and President of the Firefly brand, expressed his pleasure in introducing NIO to Thailand starting with Firefly. He emphasized that this is not just a small electric car but a premium city EV offering an exceptional driving experience. Thailand is a key market for NIO and one of the most promising in Southeast Asia. He is confident that Firefly, combining cutting-edge technology with premium qualities, will meet customers seeking a distinctive and unique lifestyle electric vehicle.
NIO is committed to bringing world-class technology to create new experiences for Thai customers and firmly believes that partnering with Thonburi Group, which has expertise and a deep understanding of Thai customers, will strengthen the NIO brand and support stable growth in Thailand.