Nio sedan spotted testing in NZ

Chinese EV brand Nio appears to be testing its upcoming electric sports sedan in New Zealand, not unusual for this time of year.

Winter brings numerous brands to Central Otago to test at the Southern Hemisphere proving grounds, with even Tesla testing the Model 3 there when it first prepared to launch.

The latest to be spotted is the Nio, nabbed and posted to Facebook by Michael Brosnahan in Wanaka – who initially thought the car was a facelift Model 3 in a bad wrap.

The ET5 is a fastback sedan reported to have battery options from 75kW to as high as 150kW – giving ranges from 550km to a massive 1000km.

Like the larger ET7, it has a Lidar sensor on the roof – appearing as a bump at the top of the windscreen.

All-wheel drive is standard, with power outputs of up to 360kW and 700Nm – giving a 4.3 second zero to 100km/h time.

And yes, it can tow, up to 1400kg.

Nio has so far given little indication on if it will expand into right-hand drive markets, having only recently dipped its toe into Europe.