At the 2025 Guangzhou International Auto Show, William Li, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NIO Inc., shared his thoughts with the media. He remarked that if he could go back to 2017 or 2018, launching a hybrid (range-extended) model might have been a profitable move in the Chinese market—but time travel isn't possible.

Li emphasized that cost considerations are crucial when discussing why consumers choose electric vehicles (EVs). Factors such as usage costs and maintenance expenses play a significant role. "No one can do everything. We’ve chosen this path—there are trade-offs, but also gains," he added.

The discussion highlighted the strategic decisions behind NIO's focus on pure EVs rather than hybrid alternatives.