New York, Jan 11, 2026, 07:24 EST — Market closed.
- NIO ended Friday down 1.9% at $4.64, pushing its slide further into the weekend.
- The stock closed roughly 13 cents above its 52-week low, even as the wider U.S. market moved higher.
- Attention shifts to trade and pricing updates from Chinese EV manufacturers, alongside U.S. inflation figures set for Tuesday.
NIO Inc’s U.S.-listed shares (NIO.N) dropped 1.9% to $4.64 on Friday, marking a second day of losses despite the S&P 500 closing higher. The stock ended about $2.11 under its 52-week high of $6.75 and roughly 13 cents above its low of $4.51. Trading volume was below recent averages, according to MarketWatch data. 1
U.S. markets were closed Sunday, leaving investors to start the week facing familiar doubts about Chinese electric-vehicle makers: just how deep will discounts in China need to get, and to what extent does the growth rely on exports now complicated by added trade hurdles.
This is crucial for NIO, as its shares often act as a stand-in for “China EV risk” on the New York market. When policy shifts or trade news breaks, the stock reacts sharply—sometimes diverging from broader market trends.
The export story just got a twist. Zeekr, the premium Chinese EV maker, plans to expand into more European markets in 2026. The company is also eyeing plug-in hybrids—vehicles powered by batteries but still equipped with combustion engines—to dodge EU tariffs on fully electric cars made in China. “When we look at the European consumer demand, the plug-in hybrid segment still … has a high share,” said Lothar Schupet, Zeekr’s acting head of European operations, in a Reuters interview. 2
Beijing is moving to ease pressure on export pricing. Starting April 1, China will eliminate value-added tax (VAT) export rebates for photovoltaic products. For battery products, VAT export rebates will drop from 9% to 6% between April and December, before being phased out completely by January 1, 2027, according to the finance ministry and tax authority on Friday. The China Photovoltaic Industry Association noted this shift might help rein in sharp export price drops and lower the risk of trade disputes.
U.S.-listed China EV stocks saw a cautious mood heading into Friday’s close. XPeng dropped 2.44%, finishing at $20.02, while Li Auto edged down 0.95% to $16.66, per Investing.com data.
NIO sells premium electric cars and has built its pitch around a battery-swap network — stations that replace a drained battery with a fully charged one in minutes. The market views this infrastructure as a double-edged sword: it can secure customer loyalty, but it’s a cash drain in an industry still grappling with volatile pricing.
For NIO stock, the focus in the next session shifts from the chart to the headlines. Traders are on the lookout for new developments around China’s auto price wars and Europe’s stance on Chinese-made EVs, given the sector’s growing reliance on overseas markets.
The downside risk is clear. More discounting in China or tougher regulatory action abroad could squeeze margins further and trap the stock near its 52-week low.
Conversely, even a hint that pricing is stabilizing—or that policy shifts are reducing export hurdles instead of increasing them—can swiftly boost the group, with no need for company-specific updates.
