Nio has relocated its UK R&D team into a new single facility, marking 10 years of engineering work in the country.
The 9,460 sq ft site at Witney, Oxfordshire, brings together more than 40 UK-based engineers who were previously split between Begbroke Science Park and Bicester Motion.
The new centre, 110km from London, includes a vehicle laboratory and a computer-aided engineering workspace, giving the team a more consolidated base for future vehicle development.
The Chinese smart EV company set up its UK R&D operation in 2016. Since then, the team has supported Nio’s global vehicle programmes, from the EP9 electric supercar to the ET9 executive flagship.
Its engineers have also worked on firefly, Nio’s third brand, and its first compact EV.
The new facility is focused on engineering rather than sales.
Nio said the UK operation covers computer-aided engineering, computational fluid dynamics, simulation, Euro NCAP safety assessments, durability, handling and noise, vibration and harshness development.
It also gives Nio a role in regulatory work from the UK.
The team supports Nio Europe’s work on artificial intelligence rules through the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers’ AI Cluster, via the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
It also contributes to UNECE working groups and industry consultations.
Nio Europe vice president Hui Zhang said the new site reflected the company’s long-term commitment to the UK, Europe and international collaboration in smart electric mobility.
Nio principal chief engineer Danilo Teobaldi said bringing the virtual and physical engineering teams together would help speed up development work, including Euro NCAP-related safety performance and smart chassis systems.
Nio has R&D and manufacturing sites across more than 10 locations, including China, Europe, the US, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The company produced its one-millionth vehicle earlier in 2026.
