NIO’s ONVO L90 Sparks Surge in EV Buzz and Stock Confidence – NIO (NYSE: NIO) in Spotlight
Onvo brand rides SUV wave as 30K+ pre‑orders fuel investor optimism
NIO Inc. (ticker NIO, trading on the NYSE, sector: Electric Vehicles / Automotive) finds itself at the center of spirited market chatter thanks to the launch of its large three‑row electric SUV, the Onvo L90. Pre‑orders opened on July 10, 2025 and quickly filled up, with Morgan Stanley estimating between 30,000 and 35,000 reservations in just four days. That early momentum coincides with a week‑long stock rally—a 10.8% jump in U.S. ADRs to $5.01 and nearly a 43% surge in Hong Kong shares.
Market watchers are dissecting every delivery projection, production ramp‑up plan, and cost structure tied to L90, debating whether this Onvo model can finally push NIO toward profitability. Analysts point out that cheaper Onvo and Firefly models now account for over 40 % of NIO’s monthly sales volume—a dramatic shift from its more premium focus that dominates under the NIO brand.
On August 1, 2025, official deliveries begin in China. The L90 carries a pre‑sale price of RMB 279,900 ($39,000) with the battery included, or RMB 193,900 ($27,000) under the Battery‑as‑a‑Service (BaaS) subscription option. Its aggressive pricing and rich feature list—900 V fast‑charging, AR‑HUD display, air suspension, massive 240‑liter “frunk,” and Nvidia Orin‑X powered Level 2+ driver assist—represent a formidable offering in the sub‑RMB 300k EV SUV segment.
Furthermore, nearly 600 L90 test units were deployed across 400 Onvo showrooms in 140 cities, enabling buyers to drive and configure ahead of the official July 31 launch and next‑day deliveries. Many see this rapid market entry strategy as one of the fastest in NIO’s portfolio—and vital for beating competitors like Li Auto (LI, Nasdaq: LI, EV sector) and XPeng (XPEV, Nasdaq: XPEV).
But not everyone is entirely sold. Some investors point to NIO’s history of missed execution—particularly around the Onvo L60, whose early launch under‑performed expectations. Now, with L90 representing over a third of Onvo’s sales mix and the company still unprofitable with Q1 net losses of 6.8 billion yuan, there’s skepticism about whether cost control and quality execution can keep pace.
Still, optimism persists. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed a $5.90 target on the U.S. listing of NIO, projecting up to 70% upside from current levels thanks in large part to L90’s expected contribution toward reaching adjusted profitability by Q4 2025, provided operating expenses can be cut to under 10% of revenue.
NIO also recently reached a major milestone—its 800,000th vehicle produced, with the L90 marking that landmark number, symbolizing the transition from premium to volume electric brands under NIO’s expanding portfolio.
In summary, with ticker NIO on NYSE as the centerpiece, the L90 launch under Onvo is generating buzz, driving deliveries, and stirring investor confidence. Whether it translates into sustainable earnings or remains a short‑term speculative spike depends on execution over the coming months, especially when cheaper models already represent a growing share of sales.