Among the commonly referred in China "Wei Xiaoli" trio, which stands for NIO “Wei Lai”, XPeng “Xiaopeng”, and Li Auto “Li Xiang”, NIO ranked last in January, delivering 13,863 new vehicles, a 37.9% year-on-year increase.

The NIO brand delivered 7,951 vehicles, while the Onvo brand delivered 5,912 vehicles.

These results pale in comparison with XPeng and Li Auto, both achieving strong results despite the Chinese New Year, with 30,350 and 29,927 units delivered, respectively.

Coincidentally, alongside its delivery results reveal is also the announcement of a limited-time 5-year zero-interest financial offer, with a down payment as low as 20% and no handling fees.

Additionally, customers who place a deposit for a car purchase between February 1 and February 28, 2025, can enjoy multiple "New Year car purchase gifts."

"We have launched the strongest car purchase policy in history. For example, with the battery rental option for the ET5T, the down payment is 43,600 CNY, with a monthly payment of 2,907 CNY for five years, saving 22,585 CNY in interest," a NIO salesperson in Guangzhou told Blue Whale News on February 1.

Source: NIO

When asked about the difference from NIO's previous zero-interest policy, the salesperson explained, "Previously, it was three years of zero interest, now it's five years of zero interest with no handling fees. Besides Tesla, only NIO offers a five-year zero-interest financial policy."

Tesla's "5-year zero-interest campaign" was launched on July 1 last year. At that time, customers who ordered the rear-wheel-drive or long-range all-wheel-drive versions of the Model 3/Y by the end of the month could enjoy a limited-time 5-year zero-interest car purchase plan, which was subsequently extended multiple times.

Blue Whale News found on Tesla China's official website that customers who order the rear-wheel-drive or long-range all-wheel-drive versions of the Model 3 by February 28 this year can still enjoy the limited-time 5-year zero-interest offer, and the old Model Y 2024 version in stock can also be financed with the limited-time 5-year zero-interest plan.

XPeng Chairman He Xiaopeng predicted in an internal letter at the beginning of the year that the competition in the automotive market will become more intense in 2025, with price wars igniting from January.

"While the penetration rate of new energy vehicles is expected to keep rising, the intense focus on cost control and standardized configurations will heighten competition. Car companies that lack advanced intelligence, comprehensive R&D, and robust market capabilities will struggle to sustain their growth."