NIO has opened a new 9,460-square-foot (880 m²) research and development center in Witney, Oxfordshire, bringing its UK engineering team of more than 40 people into a single location. The new site merges NIO‘s former operations at Begbroke Science Park and Bicester Motion into one unit and marks a decade of the company’s engineering work in the county. Now operational, it houses a dedicated computer-aided engineering (CAE) workspace and a vehicle laboratory to support future smart EV development across the UK, Europe, and China.
Highlights
- The new R&D center at Book End in Witney spans 9,460 square feet (880 m²), consolidating two former UK sites into one.
- It brings together NIO’s UK engineering team of more than 40 people across virtual and physical disciplines.
- The opening marks 10 years since NIO established its Oxfordshire R&D operation in 2016.
- NIO operates R&D and manufacturing facilities in more than 10 locations worldwide and a sales and service network across 24 countries and regions.
NIO Marks a Decade in Oxfordshire
NIO established its global R&D center for performance and advanced concept engineering in Oxfordshire in 2016. Over the past decade, the operation has supported the company’s global vehicle development programs, from the EP9 electric supercar launched in 2016 to the NIO ET9, its smart executive flagship EV. UK engineers have also contributed to NIO’s third brand, firefly, and its first compact EV.
The official opening was attended by senior NIO representatives and guests, including Mark Zhou, Executive Vice President of NIO and Chairman of its Product Committee; Hui Zhang, Vice President of NIO Europe; Danilo Teobaldi, Principal Chief Engineer; Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT); and Yu Benlin, Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK.
“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,” said Hui Zhang. “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 pointed to the benefit of co-locating the teams. “Bringing our virtual and physical UK engineering teams together in Witney will accelerate the development of innovations that improve the user experience,” he said. “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.”
What Does NIO’s UK Team Work On?
The center serves as a multi-disciplinary engineering hub for the global manufacturer. Its work spans CAE, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), simulation, safety, Euro NCAP assessments — the European New Car Assessment Programme crash-safety ratings — durability, handling, and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) development.
The UK operation is also NIO Europe’s focal point for AI regulation and representation within the AI Cluster of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), through the SMMT. The team contributes to EU policy and regulatory engagement through U.N. Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) working groups and industry consultations.
Mike Hawes tied the investment to the wider UK industry. “This investment highlights the UK’s enduring strength as a centre of automotive collaboration and engineering excellence,” he said. “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.”
NIO runs R&D and manufacturing facilities in more than 10 locations, including Shanghai, Hefei, Beijing, Nanjing, San Jose, Munich, Oxford, Budapest, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, alongside a sales and service network across 24 countries and regions. As of May 31, 2026, the company’s cumulative deliveries reached 1,148,118 vehicles.
Sign up for our popular weekly email to catch all the latest EV news!
