How Do NIO's Swap Stations Turn Traffic Into Customers?

NIO Inc. NIO has been conducting demonstration activities and pilot programs in selected regions where it does not plan to open physical stores. Instead, the company is using its power swap stations as a point of engagement with potential customers to showcase its products and services directly through these facilities. In these areas, NIO deploys sales teams on-site to promote its offerings without relying on traditional retail spaces.

This strategy highlights a unique advantage for NIO, leveraging its power swap infrastructure as a unique selling point. Per the company’s survey, approximately 60% of ONVO users identified the power swap capability as the primary reason for choosing ONVO vehicles. This underscores the strong value that the power swap feature brings to ONVO’s market appeal and sales performance.

A similar pattern is observed with the NIO brand itself. For instance, in Xingfu Town, a small locality in Shandong Province, there are no NIO stores or showrooms, still the presence of several power swap stations has led to the acquisition of more than 1,000 NIO users in the area. This real-world example indicates how power swap stations can directly contribute to sales volume. As a result, the company is implementing a series of strategic initiatives focused on positioning power swap stations as a key sales channel. NIO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. 

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While battery swapping is not common among global automakers, making NIO’s push fairly unique, peers are investing in broader charging infrastructure and fast-charging technology.

Stellantis N.V. STLA, through its brand FIAT and charging arm Free2move Charge, is supporting a new initiative by Free2move and Ample to introduce modular battery swapping in Madrid’s car-sharing market. A fleet of Fiat 500e vehicles will use Ample’s swappable battery tech to simplify EV use and promote sustainable urban mobility. The pilot will also generate data to assess broader deployment of the technology.

Ford Motor Company’s F newly revealed patent application details an innovative battery-swapping system. Unlike traditional setups that rely on floor-mounted battery packs, this design, originally filed in 2018 and published by the USPTO in May 2024, features a drive-up docking station. The system leverages the vehicle’s own power to complete the swap to simplify the process and reduce costs.

NIO’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates  

NIO has outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Foreign industry year to date. Its shares have gained 27.1% compared with the industry’s growth of 3.7%. 

 
From a valuation standpoint, NIO appears relatively overvalued. The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.71, above the industry’s 0.45. 

 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 bottom-line loss has widened by a penny in the past 30 days, while for 2026, it has narrowed by 5 cents in the past seven days. 

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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