Firefly, the compact electric vehicle brand under NIO Inc (NYSE: NIO), officially launched its refreshed model on April 7, 2026, adding a stronger motor, expanded smart features, and a new cabin software system — all at the same starting price as the original. The base version of the refreshed model, with the battery pack included, remains priced at 119,800 CNY (c. $17,500). Buyers opting for NIO's BaaS battery-as-a-service rental scheme pay 79,800 CNY upfront plus a monthly rental fee of 399 CNY. The higher-trim variant starts at 125,800 CNY on the full purchase plan, or 85,800 CNY under BaaS.Firefly refresh upgrades (Firefly)Two optional packages are available at launch. A new Maillard exterior color — referencing the golden-brown aesthetic that has trended across Chinese consumer goods — is offered at a limited-time price of 3,000 CNY (c. $440). A set of two-tone wheels is also available separately for 3,000 CNY (c. $440). The most significant mechanical change is an upgrade to the rear-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor, which sees peak output rise from 105 kW to 120 kW, reducing the 0 to 100 km/h sprint time to 7.9 seconds. Notably, existing Firefly owners will receive this power increase through an over-the-air software update, without any hardware exchange needed.Firefly blue light indicator (Firefly)On the smart features side, the refreshed model adds a blue indicator assisted driving light to make active smart-driving status more visible from outside the vehicle. A tire pressure monitoring system and auto-folding rearview mirrors with a memory function have also been added, two features that were among the most frequently requested by the existing owner community.Accompanying the hardware changes is the Aster 1.4.0 cabin software update, which introduces band-style ambient ring lighting for a more customisable interior atmosphere and Nintendo Switch screen casting for seamless in-car gaming.In driver assistance, a new guided reverse parking function records the vehicle's path for up to 100 metres to help with accurate manoeuvring in complex conditions. A false acceleration suppression system has also been added to reduce the risk of misoperation. With this update, Firefly owners gain access to NIO Radio directly through the vehicle's in-car system. The refresh arrives at an inflection point for the young brand. Firefly reached 50,000 cumulative deliveries at the end of March 2026 — roughly 11 months after its first batch of cars were handed over in late April 2025.NIO Inc delivered 35,486 vehicles across all three brands in March alone, signalling improving sales momentum heading into the second quarter. NIO is also advancing construction of its fifth-generation battery swap station network, which will be compatible with Firefly vehicles.Firefly in orange color option (Firefly)The refreshed Firefly is part of a coordinated product offensive by NIO ahead of the Beijing Auto Show later this month. The company launched updated 2026 versions of the NIO ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, and EC6 on April 2, and the flagship ES9 SUV is scheduled for a technology event on April 9. Sub-brand Onvo will follow with the 2026 L90 SUV on April 21.Whether the incremental-but-broad nature of this refresh — motor, safety conveniences, and software in a single cycle — is enough to sustain Firefly's sales pace as competition in China's compact EV segment stiffens will become clearer at the Beijing show in two weeks.Conversion rate: 1 USD = 6.86 CNY as of April 7, 2026