NIO CEO William Li Responds to “When Will NIO Collapse?” Question: “We Must Be Profitable in Q4”
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NIO CEO William Li addressed growing doubts about the company’s future, insisting that achieving profitability in Q4 is non-negotiable. Li reaffirmed confidence in NIO’s operations and EV market prospects as the automaker reports record deliveries and narrowing losses.
According to Red Star Capital Bureau, NIO founder, chairman, and CEO William Li recently responded publicly to growing skepticism about the company’s financial health.
Li said he was frustrated by frequent questions about “when NIO will go bankrupt,” stressing that achieving profitability in the fourth quarter is a must — a target meant to prove the company’s operational strength.
“If NIO cannot operate soundly on its own, it would be irresponsible to our users,” “If NIO cannot operate soundly on its own, it would be irresponsible to our users,” Li stated. He also emphasized the emotional bond between users and the brand: “If you buy a NIO and the company doesn’t do well, over time, it reflects on you too.”
On the business front, NIO’s recent delivery performance has been strong. In September, the company delivered around 34,700 vehicles, up 64% year-on-year.
Notably, during October’s third and fourth weeks (Oct. 13–19 and Oct. 20–26), NIO achieved back-to-back weeks of over 10,000 deliveries, reaching 10,600 and 10,300 units respectively. Deliveries from NIO’s new sub-brand Onvo (Le Dao) have also surpassed those of the main NIO brand.
Financially, NIO’s Q2 earnings report showed revenue rising 57.9% quarter-on-quarter to RMB 19.01 billion, while net losses narrowed to RMB 4.99 billion. The company has also adjusted its product timeline, delaying deliveries of the Onvo L80 to prioritize capacity for core models.
Looking ahead, Li remains optimistic about the pure EV market, predicting that “the golden era for full-electric three-row SUVs is arriving.” He cited industry data showing that pure EV sales growth in the first eight months of the year has far outpaced hybrid vehicles.
