Shanghai (ZXZC)- The first batch of the NIO ET5's pre-production vehicles has rolled off the assembly line at NIO’s second advanced manufacturing center, which is located at NeoPark, a smart electric vehicle industry park at Xinqiao, Hefei, Anhui province, the startup announced on Aug. 24 via its WeChat account.

The latest move means that NIO has begun validating the small-scale production capability of the production lines where the ET5s will be assembled, so as to ensure that all auto parts are available for sale.

Photo credit: NIO

In this phase, the automaker will continue to improve the quality of both auto parts and vehicles on the production line and help staff enhance operation skills, in a bid to make the production line qualified for volume production.

According to NIO, the certification related to laws and regulations for such facilities as smart cockpit and instrument panel are being simultaneously conducted in this phase. Upon completion of the pre-production stage, the ET5 will officially go into mass production.

NIO is about to showcase the ET5 at the forthcoming Chengdu Motor Show 2022, with the interior design of mass-produced model to be unveiled on spot, according to an earlier media report.

As NIO's second sedan model, the ET5 was launched at the NIO Day 2021 in December 2021. With a price range of 328,000 yuan to 386,000 yuan ($47,850-$56,300), the model is expected for delivery in September this year. It will take on Tesla's Model 3 in the Chinese market.