The Chinese electric car manufacturer Nio is preparing to introduce a station wagon version of its ET5 sedan and wants to offer it in Europe as well. First pictures and information on the estate or shooting-brake version of the ET5 come from a registration application with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Deliveries in China are expected to start in July 2023. The application to the MIIT usually takes place several months before the planned start of sales in China – which in this case would fit with the July information.
Rumours of an estate version of the ET5 electric sedan have been around for some time, and the graphics published by MIIT now give a first impression of the vehicle. The model has a curved rear rather than a utility-optimised estate with a steep rear window. With its sculpted side sills and continuous LED strip, the rear view of the ET5 Shooting Brake is somewhat reminiscent of a Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo, although not quite as flat as the sports estate from Zuffenhausen.
In terms of dimensions, the ET5 Shooting Brake is said to be quite similar to the sedan. Chinese media, citing MIIT data, report a length of 4.79 metres, a width of 1.96 metres, a height of 1.50 metres and a wheelbase of 2.89 metres. This makes the ET5 slightly smaller in virtually all dimensions than the Zeekr 001, which according to the CN EV Post is “currently the best-known shooting-brake model in China”. The 001 is based on the Geely SEA platform and is 4.97 metres long.
The ET5 Shooting Brake is also likely to be powered by the familiar sedan, so all-wheel drive with 150 kW at the front and 210 kW at the rear is likely. In addition, as with other models on the Nio platform NT2.0, there is to be an electrically retractable trailer coupling with a towing capacity of up to 1.4 tonnes.
According to earlier statements by the company’s management, the Nio ET5 Shooting Brake will also be launched in Europe in a few months. However, the Nio management might have changed its mind, because in January it was still said that the ET5 derivative would be launched in Europe first due to the demand for station wagons in this country. The success of the Zeekr 001 in China, which has made shooting-brake models much more popular there, may have led to Nio’s decision to serve the Chinese market first.
Should it be launched in Europe after all, the Shooting Brake will probably be priced slightly higher than the saloon. In Germany, as reported, the shooting brake starts at 49,900 euros, but without the battery.
Keyword: Nio to release an ET5 station wagon in Europe