Onvo L90 Pre-Sale Launches at €23,000 with Battery Subscription – A Bold Challenge to Li Auto’s Upcoming i8 SUV

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has officially launched pre-sales for its debut electric SUV, the Onvo L90, and it's already making waves across China’s competitive EV market. With a sharp focus on affordability, practicality, and infrastructure support, Onvo is taking direct aim at Li Auto and its upcoming Li i8, setting the stage for an intense summer showdown in the premium electric SUV segment.

The Onvo L90 starts at RMB 279,900 (~€33,300) for the version equipped with an 85 kWh battery. But for buyers opting into Nio’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model, the pre-sale price drops dramatically to just RMB 193,900 (~€23,000), making it one of the most accessible large electric SUVs in its class. Final launch pricing is expected to dip even further when the SUV officially hits the market at the end of July.

This strategic pricing places immense pressure on Li Auto, whose own flagship SUV, the Li L9, starts at a significantly higher RMB 409,800 (~€48,700). Adding to the tension, Li Auto is preparing to launch its first all-electric SUV, the Li i8, on July 29, just days before Onvo L90 deliveries begin on August 1.

At 5,145 mm long with a 3,110 mm wheelbase, the Onvo L90 sticks to a traditional, family-friendly boxy SUV design—a favorite among Chinese buyers. In contrast, the Li i8 adopts a sleeker MPV-like form. Despite its aerodynamic shape, the i8 is shorter and heavier than the L90, raising questions about efficiency.

Performance-wise, the Onvo L90 AWD version delivers 440 kW of power and can sprint from 0–100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. Meanwhile, the two-wheel-drive variant offers excellent efficiency with energy consumption of 14.5 kWh/100 km and a range of up to 605 km, thanks to a cutting-edge 900V platform.

The L90 is also designed with families in mind, offering 6- or 7-seat configurations and impressive cargo capacity—up to ten suitcases even when fully loaded with passengers. It also features a spacious frunk and advanced connectivity.

However, Onvo’s biggest advantage may be its access to Nio’s vast charging ecosystem. Buyers gain full access to:

3,400+ battery swap stations

2,884 supercharging stations

Thousands of destination chargers

This extensive infrastructure, especially the battery swapping capability, gives Onvo a serious edge over rivals still building out their networks.

Showroom display cars are already available, and the brand promises near-immediate delivery after launch—avoiding long waiting times that often frustrate early EV adopters.

As Li Auto ramps up its charging network and prepares to release the i8, it’s clear that the battle for China’s family EV market is heating up—and the Onvo L90 is leading the charge.