Nio's European Dream Takes a Hit: The Demise of Denmark's Battery Swap Station
It's a bold move, and it signals a shift in strategy: Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle maker, has shuttered its only battery swap station in Denmark. This marks the first time the company has closed such a facility in Europe since its continental debut in 2021.
The closure of the Slagelse station comes as Nio prepares to re-enter the Danish market with a new business model, abandoning its battery rental service in the Nordic country. But here's where it gets controversial: sales figures in Denmark have been less than stellar. According to registration data, Nio registered only nine vehicles in Denmark this year, following sales of just five units in 2024 and 41 in 2023.
Nio has fundamentally restructured its Danish operations earlier this year, moving away from a direct-sales model in favor of a local distributor partnership. This strategic pivot raises questions about the viability of its original European expansion plan.
Station Disappears from the Map
Despite the Power Map on Nio's official website still listing 61 stations across Europe, the Slagelse station has been removed and is no longer mentioned. The company's recent announcements further highlight this change. On Tuesday, Nio announced its battery swapping infrastructure could now contribute to stabilizing the Swedish power grid, mentioning for the first time that it has 60 stations across Europe, not 61.
When opening its latest station in early September, Nio stated it represented the 21st in Germany and the 61st in Europe. This discrepancy underscores the recent changes.
The Slagelse station had been unavailable to European customers for several months, marked as 'Under Maintenance' before its complete removal from the network.
Early Promises Unfulfilled
Nio entered the Danish market in October 2022 as part of its European push, one year after its 2021 debut on the continent. The Shanghai-based brand entered Denmark alongside Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, using its direct retail network and battery-swapping services, focusing on premium EV buyers.
At the time, Nio promised to deploy several battery swap stations across the country. This would allow Danish customers to lease the battery of the vehicle instead of buying it outright. However, only one station materialized.
Five months after arriving in the Danish market, the company opened its first — and only — battery swap station in the country. Located in Slagelse, about 60 miles outside Copenhagen, the second-generation station opened in March 2023 and became the 12th across Europe at the time. Each Gen 2 station can store up to 21 batteries, with each swap taking only a few minutes.
Strategic Pivot to a Distributor Model
Nio's co-founder and President visited Denmark and several other European markets last June, signing an agreement with a distributor in the Scandinavian country. The company appointed Denmark’s Nic. Christiansen Group to handle the import and sale of its cars, marking a shift from its direct-sales strategy. This was a direct response to disappointing sales in the Nordic market.
This dealership model is being used in all new markets. However, with the exception of Denmark, Nio maintains the direct sales model in Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden, where it has already established infrastructure, such as its flagship showrooms.
In a LinkedIn post, Casper Mysling, the newly appointed Country Manager for Nio and its sister brand Firefly, confirmed the agreement with the local distributor, describing it as a relaunch under a new approach. “We will relaunch Nio in Denmark with a new strategy and a much more attractive price point than before,” Mysling wrote.
Nic. Christiansen Group said the vehicles will initially be showcased in Copenhagen this autumn, with further showrooms planned in Aarhus and possibly Odense in 2026.
Infrastructure Expansion Slows Amid Cost Cuts
The deployment of new stations in Europe — but also in China — has sharply slowed down since early 2025. The charging and battery swapping team has suffered a severe cut as part of cost-cutting efforts, which were escalated by Nio in early 2025.
The station closure represents a significant retreat for Nio's battery swap ambitions in Europe, where the technology has struggled to gain the traction it enjoys in China. The Denmark facility’s removal leaves Nio with 60 operational battery swap stations across its European markets, down from the 61 it operated just months ago.
What does this mean for the future of Nio in Europe? Is this a temporary setback, or a sign of deeper challenges? What are your thoughts on Nio's shift in strategy? Share your opinions in the comments below!
