Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has entered into a strategic partnership with German automotive supplier Bosch during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s two-day visit to China. The agreement covers collaboration across Nio’s three brands—Nio, Onvo and Firefly—and focuses on key technologies for next-generation electric vehicles, including steer-by-wire chassis, battery management systems, powertrain integration and autonomous-driving perception modules.
The deal highlights ongoing cooperation between China and Germany in the automotive supply chain at a time when European Union authorities have been imposing additional duties on imported Chinese EVs. Earlier this year, the EU implemented a surcharge of up to 21 percent on Chinese electric vehicles on top of the existing 10 percent tariff. China and the EU have since reached a price-undertaking agreement that could replace those extra duties, signaling progress on trade tensions.
During his visit on February 25–26, Chancellor Merz toured several Chinese companies and met business leaders at the Sino-German Economic Advisory Council symposium in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li joined Premier Li Qiang and Chancellor Merz at the event to discuss supply chain stability, green-technology initiatives and the investment environment.
Despite geopolitical headwinds, Nio has continued to expand its footprint in Europe’s largest automotive market. The company established a global design center in Munich in its early years, followed by a Berlin innovation center and a Brandenburg smart-driving center in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Nio has also rolled out its branded retail and community spaces in cities such as Hamburg.
Source: CnEVPost
