Shanghai-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio is preparing to open its first battery swap station in the Middle East later this month. An internal source revealed that the station has already been powered up and is currently undergoing testing, with a launch anticipated by the end of February.

As reported by Electric-Vehicles.com, the approval process for the station took longer than expected, but it is now set to expedite future deployments. A company spokesperson previously mentioned that the station was initially planned to open by the “end of 2024,” contingent on permit approval.

The first battery swap station in the UAE will be situated at the Yas Marina F1 Circuit, approximately 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi. Nio’s expansion manager, Geir Nevjen, disclosed this information in September. Nio’s unique battery swap technology enables drivers to replace an empty battery with a fully charged one in about three to four minutes. As of the end of 2024, Nio operated nearly 3,000 stations in China and has plans to add 2,000 more in 2025, aiming for a total of 5,000 stations.

Roberto Lopes da Silva, Nio’s general manager for the UAE market, joined the company in May after previously serving as Chief Sales Officer at Canadian EV company AXL. In mid-2024, Nio’s engineering and product development team tested its vehicles under extreme conditions in the desert, enduring temperatures as high as 124°F (51 degrees Celsius).

In October 2023, Nio formed a joint venture with its significant investor, CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, to expand its operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region under the name Nio MENA. The partnership was further solidified in December 2023 when Nio secured a $2.2 billion investment from CYVN Holdings, which increased CYVN’s ownership share to 20.1% of Nio’s total issued and outstanding shares. This investment followed a prior $1 billion investment made by CYVN in July 2023.

In addition to the battery swap station, Nio opened its first showroom in the United Arab Emirates last November. This retail outlet is located in Galleria Al Maryah Island, a prestigious area in Abu Dhabi, further establishing Nio’s presence in the region.