NIO Establishes Mobile Technology Subsidiary
NIO Mobile Technology Co., Ltd. was formally established in Shanghai on August 4, to be mainly engaged in software and information technology services. The registered capital of the new enterprise is $100 million, and its legal representative is Qin Lihong, the co-founder and president of Chinese electric vehicle firm NIO Inc.
In addition, the business scope of the latest NIO subsidiary includes sales of mobile terminal devices, AI application software development, and sales of AI hardware and communication equipment.
At the end of last month, William Li, the CEO of NIO, revealed at a car owners’ meeting that the firm is advancing its smartphone business. The initial device, which the firm says will be closely integrated with its vehicles, is expected to be launched next year. Li added: “What NIO wants to do is very simple, that is, to build a good smartphone for NIO users, and release one smartphone every year, just like Apple does.”
In March this year, William Li said that NIO‘s smartphone business was in the research stage. He pointed out that “it is easy to make a mobile phone, but it is very challenging to make a good one.” In April, Li again talked about mobile phones, which are the most important equipment for NIO users to connect vehicles. Because Apple’s ecology is now very exclusive to the automobile industry and does not open UWB and other interfaces, NIO is very passive. In order to ensure the interests and experience of its users, NIO will research smartphones and car-centered intelligent terminal devices.
SEE ALSO: NIO Responds to Rumors of Third Car Brand Plan
Many automakers and smartphone companies are now entering into each other’s sector, as witnessed by Geely-backed Xingji Technology’s acquisition of Meizu, Xiaomi‘s launch of an auto business, and Apple’s car-building project. With the increasingly intelligent attributes of new energy vehicles, the boundary that exists between them and smartphones has become increasingly blurred. But until now, no company has succeeded in achieving excellent results in both smartphones and smart cars at the same time.
