Global smart electric vehicle company, NIO, marks 10 years of engineering innovation in the UK with the inauguration of its new R&D facility in Witney, Oxfordshire. Now operational, it brings together its UK engineering team of more than 40 people in a single location to further enhance collaboration and global EV innovation.
NIO’s new 9,460 sq ft site at Book End, Witney, merges NIO’s former UK facilities at Begbroke Science Park and Bicester Motion into a single unit, comprising a dedicated computer aided engineering (CAE) workspace and vehicle laboratory. The new R&D centre will support closer collaboration across the UK team and provide a more spacious and efficient base for future vehicle development work.
NIO marks 10 years of UK R&D with opening ceremony
In 2016, NIO established its global R&D centre for performance and advanced concept engineering in Oxfordshire. Over the past decade, the operation has contributed to NIO’s global R&D journey, supporting all its global vehicle development programmes, from the EP9 electric supercar launched in 2016, through to the NIO ET9, its smart executive flagship EV. Its engineers in the UK have also worked on the development of NIO’s third brand, firefly, and its first compact EV.
Marking this important 10-year milestone and the role the UK team plays, the official opening of the new facility was attended by senior NIO representatives and guests, including Mark Zhou, Executive Vice President, NIO and Chairman of NIO’s Product Committee; Hui Zhang, Vice President, NIO Europe; Danilo Teobaldi, Principal Chief Engineer, NIO; Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT); and Yu Benlin, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK.
Hui Zhang, Vice President, NIO Europe, said: “For a decade, our Oxfordshire team has been an integral part of NIO’s global R&D network, contributing to multiple vehicle programmes and engineering innovations across our global portfolio. As we celebrate this milestone, we thank the team for its dedication, expertise and contribution to NIO’s development over the past 10 years. The opening of our new Witney R&D centre reflects our long-term commitment to the UK, Europe and international collaboration in advancing smart electric mobility.”
Danilo Teobaldi, Principal Chief Engineer, NIO, said: “Bringing our virtual and physical UK engineering teams together in Witney will accelerate the development of innovations that improve the user experience. With new facilities, we can ensure NIO’s UK-based team continues to pioneer in areas such as class-leading Euro NCAP results for all three group brands, along with smart chassis system solutions for our global platforms.”
UK expertise contributes to NIO’s global R&D innovations
The new facility strengthens the growing role of NIO’s UK R&D operation as a multi-disciplinary engineering hub for the global manufacturer. Its activities span CAE, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), simulation, safety, Euro NCAP safety assessments, durability, handling, and Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) developments.
The UK R&D operation serves as NIO Europe’s focal point for AI regulation and representation within the International Organisation of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers’ (OICA) AI Cluster through the SMMT. Additionally, the team contributes to EU policy and regulatory engagement through UNECE working groups and industry consultations.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “This investment highlights the UK’s enduring strength as a centre of automotive collaboration and engineering excellence. NIO’s decision to consolidate its R&D activity here in a new, state of the art facility also reflects the depth of British talent and expertise in next-generation vehicle technologies. It is a timely reminder that amid fierce global competition for investment, the UK can continue to attract and grow high-value innovation, supporting jobs, skills and the transition to zero-emission mobility.”
Currently, NIO has R&D centres and manufacturing facilities in over 10 locations, including Shanghai, Hefei, Beijing, Nanjing, San Jose, Munich, Oxford, Budapest, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. It has built a sales and service network across 24 countries and regions, including China, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central America. NIO produced its 1,000,000th vehicle earlier in 2026.
