| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2021 |
| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | |
| Basis of presentation | (a) Basis of presentation The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Significant accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below. |
| Principles of consolidation | (b) Principles of consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and the VIEs for which the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary. A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors (the “Board”): to cast majority of votes at the meeting of the Board or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. A VIE is an entity in which the Company, or its subsidiary, through contractual arrangements, bears the risks of, and enjoys the rewards normally associated with, ownership of the entity, and therefore the Company or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity. All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries and the VIE have been eliminated upon consolidation. The non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated financial statements. |
| Use of estimates | (c) Use of estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and the reported revenue and expenses during the reported period in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements mainly include, but are not limited to, standalone selling price of each distinct performance obligation in revenue recognition, the valuation and recognition of share-based compensation arrangements, depreciable lives of property, equipment and software, assessment for impairment of long-lived assets, inventory valuation for excess and obsolete inventories, lower of cost and net realizable value of inventories, valuation of deferred tax assets, current expected credit loss of receivables, fair value of available-for-sale debt security investments as well as warranty liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Functional currency and foreign currency translation | (d) Functional currency and foreign currency translation The Group’s reporting currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”). The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries which are incorporated in HK is United States dollars (“US$”), except NIO Sport which operates mainly in United Kingdom and uses Great Britain pounds (“GBP”). The functional currencies of the other subsidiaries and the VIE are their respective local currencies. The determination of the respective functional currency is based on the criteria set out by ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters. Transactions denominated in currencies other than in the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the transaction dates. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into functional currency using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in foreign currency are re-measured using the exchange rates at the dates of the initial transactions. Exchange gains or losses arising from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The financial statements of the Group’s entities of which the functional currency is not RMB are translated from their respective functional currency into RMB. Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into RMB at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts other than earnings generated in current period are translated into RMB at the appropriate historical rates. Income and expense items are translated into RMB using the periodic average exchange rates. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income or loss, and the accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments are presented as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of shareholders’ (deficit)/equity. Total foreign currency translation adjustment income/(losses) were a loss of RMB168,340, an income of RMB137,596 and a loss of RMB230,345 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. The grant-date fair value of the Group’s share-based compensation expenses is reported in US$ as the respective valuation is conducted in US$ and the shares are denominated in US$. |
| Convenience translation | (e) Convenience translation Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of comprehensive loss and consolidated statements of cash flows from RMB into US$ as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.3726, representing the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on December 31, 2021. No representation is made that the RMB amounts represent or could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on, or December 31, 2021, or at any other rate. |
| Fair value | (f) Fair value Fair value is defined as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be either recorded or disclosed at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact, and it also considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Accounting guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Accounting guidance establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: Level 1 — Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 — Observable, market-based inputs, other than quoted prices, in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 3 — Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. As disclosed in Note 2(n), the Group's equity security with readily determinable fair values is carried at fair value using quoted market prices that currently available on a securities exchange and classified within Level 1. The Group's short-term certain investments in money market funds and financial products issued by banks are carried at fair value, which are classified within Level 2 and valued using directly or indirectly observable inputs in the market place. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, such investments aggregately amounted to RMB3,210,000 and RMB27,773,387, respectively. As disclosed in Note 2(q), the Group's derivative instruments are carried at fair value, which are classified within Level 2 and valued using indirectly observable inputs in the market place. As disclosed in Note 10, the Group’s available-for-sale debt security investment includes an investment the Company made in a private company in 2021 which contains substantive redemption and preferential rights, and is classified within Level 3 for fair value measurement. As of December 31, 2021, the carrying value of the investment was RMB680,723. The Company re-measured the fair value using a market approach by adopting a backsolve method, which determined the estimated fair value of the investment through comparison to a recent transaction and applied significant unobservable inputs and assumptions. For the year ended December 31, 2021, RMB24,224 of fair value changes, net of tax, were recorded in other comprehensive income. The significant unobservable inputs adopted in the valuation as of December 31, 2021 are as follows: Unobservable Input Expected volatility 61% Probability Liquidation scenario: 35% Financial assets and liabilities of the Group primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, trade receivable, amounts due from related parties, deposits and other receivables, available-for-sale debt security investments, trade and notes payable, amounts due to related parties, other payables, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings and long-term borrowings. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, other than as discussed above, the carrying values of these financial instruments approximated to their respective fair values. |
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (g) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand, time deposits and highly-liquid investments placed with banks or other financial institutions, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use, and which have original maturities of three months or less. Cash which is restricted to withdrawal for use or pledged as security is reported separately on the face of the consolidated balance sheets. The Group’s restricted cash mainly represents (a) secured deposits held in designated bank accounts for borrowings and corporate bank credit cards, bank acceptance notes and letters of guarantee; and (b) time deposits that are pledged for property leases. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows are presented separately on our consolidated balance sheets as follows: December 31, December 31, 2020 2021 Cash and cash equivalents 38,425,541 15,333,719 Restricted cash 78,010 2,994,408 Long-term restricted cash 41,547 46,437 Total 38,545,098 18,374,564 |
| Short-term investment | (h) Short-term investments Short-term investments consist primarily of investments in fixed deposits with maturities between three months and one year, which are stated at amortised cost, and investments in money market funds and financial products issued by banks, which are measured at fair value. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the investment in fixed deposits that were recorded as short-term investments amounted to RMB3,950,747 and RMB37,057,554, respectively, among which, RMB2,873,398 and RMB6,646,299, were restricted as collateral for notes payable, bank borrowings and letter of guarantee as of December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. |
| Current expected credit losses | (i) Expected credit losses The Group accounts for the impairment of financial instruments in accordance with ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASC Topic 326”), effective from January 1, 2020. The Group’s trade and notes receivable, receivables of installment payments, deposits and other receivables are within the scope of ASC Topic 326. The Group has identified the relevant risk characteristics of its customers and the related receivables, prepayments, deposits and other receivables which include size, type of the services or the products the Group provides, or a combination of these characteristics. Receivables with similar risk characteristics have been grouped into pools. For each pool, the Group considers the historical credit loss experience, current economic conditions, supportable forecasts of future economic conditions, and any recoveries in assessing the lifetime expected credit losses. Other key factors that influence the expected credit loss analysis include customer demographics, payment terms offered in the normal course of business to customers, and industry-specific factors that could impact the Group’s receivables. Additionally, external data and macroeconomic factors are also considered. This is assessed at each quarter based on the Group’s specific facts and circumstances. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group recorded RMB9,654 and RMB54,332, respectively, in expected credit loss provisions in selling, general and administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2021, the expected credit loss reserve for current and non-current assets are RMB42,040 and RMB49,309, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, the expected credit loss reserve for current and non-current assets are RMB44,645 and RMB20,031, respectively. Balance as at December 31, 2020 Expected Expected Original credit loss credit loss amount Rate provision Current assets: Trade and notes receivable 1,123,920 3.61 % 40,548 Amounts due from related parties 169,288 — — Prepayments and other current assets 1,422,403 0.29 % 4,097 Non-current assets: Amounts due from related parties 617 — — Other non-current assets 1,561,755 1.28 % 20,031 Balance as at December 31, 2021 Expected Expected Original credit loss credit loss amount Rate provision Current assets: Trade and notes receivable 2,823,222 0.90 % 25,417 Amounts due from related parties 1,564,025 0.81 % 12,691 Prepayments and other current assets 1,854,075 0.21 % 3,932 Non-current assets: Other non-current assets 5,598,764 0.88 % 49,309 |
| Inventory | (j) Inventory Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is calculated on the average basis and includes all costs to acquire and other costs to bring the inventories to their present location and condition. The Group records inventory write-downs for excess or obsolete inventories based upon assumptions on current and future demand forecasts. If the inventory on hand is in excess of future demand forecast, the excess amounts are written down. The Group also reviews inventory to determine whether its carrying value exceeds the net amount realizable upon the ultimate sale of the inventory. This requires the determination of the estimated selling price of the vehicles less the estimated cost to convert inventory on hand into a finished product. Once inventory is written-down, a new, lower-cost basis for that inventory is established and subsequent changes in facts and circumstances do not result in the restoration or increase in that newly established cost basis. |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | (k) Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment loss, if any. Property and equipment are depreciated at rates sufficient to write off their costs less impairment and residual value, if any, over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives are as follows: Useful lives Buildings and constructions 20 years Production facilities 10 years Charging & battery swap equipment 5 R&D equipment 5 years Computer and electronic equipment 3 years Purchased software 3 5 Leasehold improvements Shorter of the estimated useful life or remaining lease term Others 3 Depreciation for mold and tooling is computed using the units-of-production method whereby capitalized costs are amortized over the total estimated productive life of the related assets. The cost of maintenance and repairs is expensed as incurred, whereas the cost of renewals and betterment that extends the useful lives of property, plant and equipment is capitalized as additions to the related assets. Interest expense on outstanding debt is capitalized during the period of significant capital asset construction. Capitalized interest on construction-in-progress is included within property, plant and equipment and is amortized over the life of the related assets. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from their respective accounts, and any gain or loss on such sale or disposal is reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. |
| Intangible assets, net | (l) Intangible assets, net Intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment, if any. Intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives as below: Useful lives Domain names and others 5 years The estimated useful lives of amortized intangible assets are reassessed if circumstances occur that indicate the original estimated useful lives have changed. |
| Land use rights, net | (m) Land use rights, net Land use rights are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives which are 536 months representing the shorter of the estimated usage periods or the terms of the agreements. |
| Long-term investments | (n) Long-term investments The Group’s long-term investments include equity investments in entities and debt security investments. Investments in entities in which the Group can exercise significant influence and holds an investment in voting common stock or in substance common stock (or both) of the investee but does not own a majority equity interest or control are accounted for using the equity method of accounting in accordance with ASC topic 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASC 323”). Under the equity method, the Group initially records its investments at fair value. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investments to recognize the Group’s proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into earnings after the date of investment. The Group evaluates the equity method investments for impairment under ASC 323. An impairment loss on the equity method investments is recognized in earnings when the decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary. Equity securities with readily determinable fair values and over which the Group has neither significant influence nor control through investments in common stock or in-substance common stock are measured at fair value, with changes in fair value reported through earnings. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values and over which the Group has neither significant influence nor control through investments in common stock or in-substance common stock are measured and recorded using a measurement alternative that measures the securities at cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from qualifying observable price changes. Available-for-sale debt security investment is reported at estimated fair value with the aggregate unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Gain or losses are realized when the investment is sold or when dividends are declared or payments are received or when other than temporarily impaired. Held-to-maturity debt security investment are reported at amortized cost. The securities are held to collect contractual cash flows, and the Group has the positive intent and ability to hold those securities to maturity. The Group monitors its investments for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the companies including current earnings trends and other company-specific information. No impairment charge was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021. |
| Impairment of long-lived assets | (o) Impairment of long-lived assets Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances (such as a significant adverse change to market conditions that will impact the future use of the assets) indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Group had originally estimated. When these events occur, the Group evaluates the impairment by comparing carrying value of the assets to an estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the assets, the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying value of the assets over the fair value of the assets. Impairment charges recognized for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021 was RMB75,278, RMB25,757 and nil, respectively. |
| Warranty liabilities | (p) Warranty liabilities The Group accrues a warranty reserve for all new vehicles sold by the Group, which includes the Group’s best estimate of the projected costs to repair or replace items under warranty. These estimates are based on actual claims incurred to date and an estimate of the nature, frequency and costs of future claims. These estimates are inherently uncertain given the Group’s relatively short history of sales, and changes to the historical or projected warranty experience may cause material changes to the warranty reserve when the Group accumulates more actual data and experience in the future. The portion of the warranty reserve expected to be incurred within the next 12 months is included within accruals and other liabilities, while the remaining balance is included within other non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Warranty expense is recorded as a component of cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. The following table shows a reconciliation in the current reporting period related to carried-forward warranty liabilities. For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 2020 2021 Warranty – beginning of year 177,293 412,004 952,946 Provision for warranty 283,647 582,069 1,078,854 Warranty costs incurred (48,936) (41,127) (68,823) Warranty– end of year 412,004 952,946 1,962,977 |
| Derivative Financial Instruments | (q) Derivative Financial Instruments Derivative instruments are carried at fair value, which generally represent the estimated amounts expect to receive or pay upon termination of the contracts as of the reporting date. Derivative financial instruments are not used for trading or speculative purposes. The Group has entered into several currency exchange forward contracts with certain commercial banks in PRC to mitigate the risks of foreign exchange gain/loss generated from the Group’s balances of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments denominated in US dollars. As such instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the Group records the changes in fair value of the derivatives in Other (loss)/income, net. For the year ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, nil, nil and RMB228,887 of changes in fair value were recorded in Other (loss)/income, net, respectively. |
| Revenue recognition | (r) Revenue recognition Revenue is recognized when or as the control of the goods or services is transferred to a customer. Depending on the terms of the contract and the laws that apply to the contract, control of the goods and services may be transferred over time or at a point in time. Control of the goods and services is transferred over time if the Group’s performance: ● provides all of the benefits received and consumed simultaneously by the customer; ● creates and enhances an asset that the customer controls as the Group performs; or ● does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Group and the Group has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. If control of the goods and services transfers over time, revenue is recognized over the period of the contract by reference to the progress towards complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. Otherwise, revenue is recognized at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the goods and services. Contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, the Group allocates revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. The Group generally determines standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers. If the standalone selling price is not directly observable, it is estimated using expected cost plus a margin or adjusted market assessment approach, depending on the availability of observable information. Assumptions and estimations have been made in estimating the relative selling price of each distinct performance obligation, and changes in judgments on these assumptions and estimates may impact the revenue recognition. When either party to a contract has performed, the Group presents the contract in the consolidated balance sheets as a contract asset or a contract liability, depending on the relationship between the entity’s performance and the customer’s payment. A contract asset is the Group’s right to consideration in exchange for goods and services that the Group has transferred to a customer. A receivable is recorded when the Group has an unconditional right to consideration. A right to consideration is unconditional if only the passage of time is required before payment of that consideration is due. If a customer pays consideration or the Group has a right to an amount of consideration that is unconditional, before the Group transfers a good or service to the customer, the Group presents the contract liability when the payment is made, or a receivable is recorded (whichever is earlier). A contract liability is the Group’s obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Group has received consideration (or an amount of consideration is due) from the customer. The Group’s contract liabilities primarily resulted from the multiple performance obligations identified in the vehicle sales contract and the sales of packages, which is recorded as deferred revenue and advance from customers. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the balances of contract liabilities from vehicle sales contracts were RMB1,253,620 and RMB2,294,528, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the balances of contract liabilities from the sales of packages were RMB91,486 and RMB180,732, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Company did not record any contract assets. The Group generates revenue from (i) vehicle sales, (ii) battery upgrade service, (iii) sales of charging piles, (iv) sales of packages, (v) automotive regulatory credits, and (vi) others. Vehicle sales The Group generates revenue from sales of electric vehicles, together with a number of embedded products and services through a series of contracts. The Group identifies the users who purchase the vehicle as its customers. There are multiple distinct performance obligations explicitly stated in a series of contracts including sales of vehicles, home chargers, vehicle connectivity services, extended warranty and battery swapping service which are accounted for in accordance with ASC 606. Only initial users are entitled to vehicle connectivity services, extended warranty and battery swapping service. The standard warranty provided by the Group is accounted for in accordance with ASC 460, Guarantees, and the estimated costs are recorded as a liability when NIO transfers the control of vehicle to a user. Customers only pay the amount after deducting the government subsidies to which they are entitled for the purchase of electric vehicles. The government subsidies are applied and collected by the Group or Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (“JAC”) from the government. The government subsidy is considered as a part of the transaction price it charges the customers for the electric vehicle, as the subsidy is granted to the buyer of the electric vehicle instead of the Group and the buyer remains liable for such amount to the Group in the event the subsidies were not received by the Group. The Group or JAC applies and collects the payment on behalf of the customers. In the instance that some eligible customers elect installment payment for battery or the auto financing program, the Group believes such arrangement contains a significant financing component and as a result adjusts the transaction price to reflect the impact of time value on the transaction price using an appropriate discount rate (i.e. the interest rates of the loan reflecting the credit risk of the borrower). Interest income resulting from arrangements with a significant financing component is presented as other sales. Receivables related to the battery installment payment and auto financing programs that are expected to be repaid by customers beyond one year of the dates of the financial statements are recognized as non-current assets. The difference between the gross receivable and the respective present value is recorded as unrealized finance income. Interest income resulting from arrangements with a significant financing component is presented separately from revenue from contracts with customers. The Group uses a cost plus margin approach to determine the estimated standalone selling price for each individual distinct performance obligation identified, considering the Group’s pricing policies and practices, and the data utilized in making pricing decisions. The overall contract price is then allocated to each distinct performance obligation based on the relative estimated standalone selling price in accordance with ASC 606. The revenue for vehicle sales and home chargers are recognized at a point in time when the control of the product is transferred to the customer. For the vehicle connectivity service and battery swapping service, the Group recognizes the revenue over time using a straight-line method during the estimated beneficial period, based on the estimated length of time that the initial owner owns the vehicles before it is re-sold to secondary market. As for the extended warranty, given limited operating history and lack of historical data, the Group decides to recognize the revenue over time based on a straight-line method initially, and will continue monitoring the cost pattern periodically and adjust the revenue recognition pattern to reflect the actual cost pattern as it becomes available. As the consideration for the vehicle and all embedded services are generally paid in advance, which means the payments received are prior to the transfer of goods or services by the Group, the Group records a contract liability (deferred revenue) for the allocated amount regarding those unperformed obligations. Battery as a Service (BaaS) The Battery as a Service (the “BaaS”), allows users to purchase electric vehicles without battery packs and subscribe for the usage of battery packs separately. In PRC, under the BaaS, the Group sells battery packs to Wuhan Weineng Battery Asset Co., Ltd. (the “Battery Asset Company”), an equity investee of the Company, on a back-to-back basis when the Group sells the vehicle to the BaaS users and the BaaS users subscribe for the usage of the battery packs from the Battery Asset Company by paying a monthly subscription fee to the Battery Asset Company. The promise to transfer the control of the battery packs to the Battery Asset Company is the only performance obligation in the contract with the Battery Asset Company for the sales of battery packs. The Group recognizes revenue from the sales of battery packs to the Battery Asset Company when the vehicles (together with the battery packs) are delivered to the BaaS users which is the point considered then the control of the battery packs is transferred to the Battery Asset Company. Together with the sales of the battery packs, the Group entered into service agreements with the Battery Asset Company, pursuant to which the Group provides services to the Battery Asset Company including battery packs monitoring, maintenance, upgrade, replacement, IT system support, etc., with monthly service charges. In case of any default in payment of monthly rental fees from users, the Battery Asset Company also has right to request the Group to track and lock down the battery subscribed by the users to limit its usage. In addition, in furtherance of the BaaS, the Group agreed to provide guarantee to the Battery Asset Company for the default in payment of monthly subscription fees from users. The maximum amount of guarantee that can be claimed by the Battery Asset Company for the users’ payment default shall not be higher than the accumulated service fees the Group receives from the Battery Asset Company. For services provided to the Battery Asset Company, revenue is recognized over the period when services are rendered. As for financial guarantee liabilities, the provision of guarantee is linked to and associated with services rendered to the Battery Asset Company and the payment of guarantee amount is therefore accounted for as the reduction to the revenue from the Battery Asset Company. The fair value of the guarantee liabilities is determined by taking considerations of the default pattern of the Company’s existing battery installment programs provided to users. At each period end, the financial liabilities are remeasured with the corresponding changes recorded as the reduction to the revenue. As of December 31, 2021, both service revenue and guarantee liability were immaterial. Battery swapping service The Group also provides battery swapping service to both BaaS users and non-BaaS users, which provides the users with convenient “recharging” experience by swapping the user’s battery for another one. As set forth in the vehicle sales contracts, the initial users can have their battery packs swapped certain times a month free of charge (i.e. monthly free-of-charge quota) during the length of time they own vehicles. For additional consideration, initial users can exceed the monthly swapping quota provided for within the sales agreement. When the vehicles are sold by the initial users, the successor owners are not entitled to such monthly free-of-charge quota and need to pay cash consideration for each battery swapping service. The battery swapping service is in substance a charging service instead of non-monetary exchanges or sales of battery packs as the battery packs involved in such swapping are the same in capacity and very similar in performance. For performance obligation of the battery swapping service sold together with the vehicles (i.e. monthly free-of-charge quota), the Group recognizes the revenue over time using a straight-line method in the estimated beneficial period, being the estimated length of time that the initial owner owns the vehicle. For the battery swapping beyond monthly free-of-charge quota for which additional considerations are paid by the users, the Group recognizes revenue at the amount of consideration paid by users when the battery swapping service is completed. Practical expedients and exemptions The Group follows the guidance on immaterial promises when identifying performance obligations in the vehicle sales contracts and concludes that roadside assistance and out-of-town charging services are not performance obligations considering these two services are value-added services to enhance user experience rather than critical items for vehicle driving and forecasted that usage of these two services will be very limited. The Group also performs an estimation on the standalone fair value of each promise applying a cost plus margin approach and concludes that the standalone fair value of roadside assistance and out-of- town charging services are insignificant individually and in aggregate, representing less than 1% of vehicle gross selling price and aggregate fair value of each individual promise. Considering the qualitative assessment and the result of the quantitative estimate, the Group concluded not to assess whether promises are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract and the relative standalone fair value individually and in aggregate is less than 3% of the contract price, namely the road-side assistance and out-of-town charging services. Related costs are recognized as incurred. Battery upgrade service The Group provides battery upgrade service to both BaaS users and non-BaaS users. The users can exchange their battery packs with lower capacity for the battery packs with higher capacity from the Group with a fixed cash consideration. The battery upgrade service is in substance the provision of incremental battery capacity to the users instead of non-monetary battery exchanges or sales of battery pack. Therefore, under non-BaaS model, the revenue from the battery upgrade service is recognized at the amount of cash consideration paid by users at a point in time when the service is rendered. Under the BaaS model, since the ownership of originally installed battery belongs to the Battery Asset Company, when a user requests battery upgrade, the Group actually upgrades the battery that belongs to the Battery Asset Company and recognize revenue for the battery upgrade service at the amount paid by the Battery Asset Company when upgrade service is rendered. BaaS users will further pay a higher monthly subscription fee to the Battery Asset Company for subscribing for the battery with higher capacity. Sales of charging piles In addition to the home chargers provided as one of the performance obligations in the contract of vehicle sales, the Group also sells charging piles to customers separately. Revenue for charging piles are recognized at a point in time when the control of the product is transferred to customers. Sales of packages The Group also sells the two packages, energy package and service package in exchange for cash considerations. The energy package includes battery charging and swapping services and service package includes repair and maintanence services The agreements for packages create legal enforceability to both parties on a monthly basis as the respective packages can be canceled at any time without any penalty. The Group concludes that each service provided in the energy or service package is a series and meets the stand-ready criteria as one separate performance obligation within the package. Therefore, other than the customer loyalty program points granted to the customers as discussed below, each service provided in the energy or service package is recognized under the same pattern over time on a monthly basis as customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided and the term of legally enforceable contract is only one month. As the consideration for packages are generally paid in advance, which means the payments received are prior to the transfer of services by the Group, the Group records the consideration as a contract liability (advance from customers) upon receipt. Sales of Automotive Regulatory Credits New Energy Vehicle (“NEV”) mandate policy launched by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) specifies the NEV credit targets and as all of the Group's products are NEVs, the Group is able to generate NEV credits above target. The credits earned per vehicle is dependent on various metrics such as vehicle driving range and battery energy efficiency, and is calculated based on the MIIT published formula. Excess positive NEV credits are tradable to other vehicle manufacturers through a credit management system established by the MIIT on a separately negotiated basis. The Group sells these credits at agreed price to other vehicle manufacturers. Considerations for automotive regulatory credits are typically received at the point control transfers to the customer, or in accordance with payment terms customary to the business. The Company recognizes revenue on the sale of automotive regulatory credits at the time control of the regulatory credits is transferred to the purchasing party as other sales revenue in the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss. Revenue from the sale of automotive regulatory credits totaled nil, RMB120,648 and RMB516,549 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Others Other revenues primarily comprise revenues generated from (i) sales of accessories, (ii) embedded products and services offered together with vehicle sales, including vehicle connectivity service and extended warranty, and (iii) others. Revenue is recognized when relevant services are rendered or control of the products is transferred. Incentives The Group offers a self-managed customer loyalty program points, which can be used in the Group’s online store and at NIO houses to redeem NIO merchandise. The Group determines the value of each point based on estimated incremental cost. Customers and NIO fans and advocates have a variety of ways to obtain the points. The major accounting policy for its points program is described as follows: (i) Sales of vehicle The Group concludes the points offered linked to the purchase transaction of the vehicle is a material right and accordingly a separate performance obligation according to ASC 606, and should be taken into consideration when allocating the transaction price of the vehicle sales. The Group also estimates the probability of points redemption when performing the allocation. Since historical information does not yet exist for the Group to determine any potential points forfeitures and the fact that most merchandise can be redeemed without requiring a significant amount of points compared with the amount of points provided to users, the Group believes it is reasonable to assume all points will be redeemed and no forfeiture is estimated currently. The amount allocated to the points as separate performance obligation is recorded as contract liability (deferred revenue) and revenue should be recognized when future goods or services are transferred. The Group will continue to monitor when and if forfeiture rate data becomes available and will apply and update the estimated forfeiture rate at each reporting period. (ii) Sales of packages Energy package — when the customers charge their vehicles without using the Group’s charging network as tracked by the Group’s system, the Group will grant points to the customers based on the quantity of electricity charged. The Group records the value of the points as a reduction of revenue from the energy package. Service package — the Group grants points to the customers when the customers accumulate miles of driving during the service period of the service package. The Group records the value of the points as a reduction of revenue from the service package. The above customer points arrangement is considered as a separate performance obligation of the energy and service packages sold. The allocated amount to points granted under these packages are deferred and recognized when such points are utilized by the customers. Since historical information is limited for the Group to determine any potential points forfeiture and most merchandise can be redeemed without requiring a significant amount of points compared with the amount of points provided to users, the Group has used an estimated forfeiture rate of zero. (iii) Other scenarios Customers or users of the mobile application can also obtain points through any other ways such as frequent sign-ins to the Group’s mobile application, sharing articles from the application to users’ own social media, etc. The Group believes these points are to encourage user engagement and generate market awareness. As a result, the Group accounts for such points as selling and marketing expenses with a corresponding liability recorded under other current liabilities of its consolidated balance sheets upon the points offering. The Group estimates liabilities under the customer loyalty program based on cost of the NIO merchandise that can be redeemed, and its estimate of probability of redemption. At the time of redemption, the Group records a reduction of inventory and other current liabilities. In certain cases where merchandise is sold for cash in addition to points, the Group records other revenue. Similar to the reasons above, the Group estimates no points forfeiture currently and continues to assess when and if a forfeiture rate should be applied. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the revenue portion allocated to the points as a separate performance obligation was RMB66,286, RMB162,485 and RMB371,849, respectively, which is recorded as contract liability (deferred revenue). For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, the total points recorded as selling and marketing expenses were RMB142,425, RMB78,229 and RMB155,884, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 and, 2021, liabilities recorded related to unredeemed points were RMB221,450 and RMB468,878, respectively. |
| Cost of Sales | (s) Cost of Sales Vehicle Cost of vehicle revenue includes parts, materials, processing fee, compensation to JAC, labor costs, manufacturing overhead (including depreciation of assets associated with the production), and reserves for estimated warranty expenses. Cost of vehicle revenue also includes reserves for estimated warranty expenses and charges to write-down the carrying value of the inventory when it exceeds its estimated net realizable value and to provide for on-hand inventory that is either obsolete or in excess of forecasted demand. Service and Other Cost of service and other revenue includes direct parts, materials, labor costs, vehicle connectivity costs, and depreciation of assets that are associated with sales of packages. |
| Sales and marketing expenses | (t) Sales and marketing expenses Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising expenses, marketing and promotional expenses, salaries and other compensation-related expenses to sales and marketing personnel. Advertising expenses consist primarily of costs for the promotion of corporate image and product marketing. The Group expenses all advertising costs as incurred and classifies these costs under sales and marketing expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, advertising costs totaled RMB230,061, RMB266,569 and RMB529,057, respectively. |
| Research and development expenses | (u) Research and development expenses Certain costs associated with developing internal-use software are capitalized when such costs are incurred within the application development stage of software development. Other than that, all costs associated with research and development (“R&D”) are expensed as incurred. R&D expenses are primary comprised of charges for R&D and consulting work performed by third parties; salaries, bonuses, share-based compensation, and benefits for those employees engaged in research, design and development activities; costs related to design tools; license expenses related to intellectual property, supplies and services; and allocated costs, including depreciation and amortization, rental fees, and utilities. |
| General and administrative expenses | (v) General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, bonuses, share-based compensation and benefits for employees involved in general corporate functions, depreciation and amortization of fixed assets which are used in general corporate activities, legal and other professional services fees, rental and other general corporate related expenses. |
| Employee benefits | (w) Employee benefits Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the PRC subsidiaries and VIEs of the Group make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions made. Total amounts of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately RMB553,523, RMB366,223 and RMB761,417 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. |
| Government grants | (x) Government grants The Group’s PRC based subsidiaries received government subsidies from certain local governments. The Group’s government subsidies consisted of specific subsidies and other subsidies. Specific subsidies are subsidies that the local government has provided for a specific purpose, such as product development and renewal of production facilities. Other subsidies are the subsidies that the local government has not specified its purpose for and are not tied to future trends or performance of the Group; receipt of such subsidy income is not contingent upon any further actions or performance of the Group and the amounts do not have to be refunded under any circumstances. The Group recorded specific purpose subsidies as advances payable when received. For specific subsidies, upon government acceptance of the related project development or asset acquisition, the specific purpose subsidies are recognized to reduce related R&D expenses or the cost of asset acquisition. Other subsidies are recognized as other operating income upon receipt as further performance by the Group is not required. |
| Income taxes | (y) Income taxes Current income taxes are recorded in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdiction. The Group accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method in accordance with ASC 740, Income Tax The Group records liabilities related to uncertain tax positions when, despite the Group’s belief that the Group’s tax return positions are supportable, the Group believes that it is more likely than not that those positions may not be fully sustained upon review by tax authorities. Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense. The Group did not recognize uncertain tax positions as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. |
| Share-based compensation | (z) Share-based compensation The Company grants restricted shares and share options of the Company and its subsidiary to eligible employees and non-employee consultants and accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation and ASU 2018-07-Compensation-stock compensation (Topic 718)-Improvements to non-employee share-based payment accounting. Employees’ share-based compensation awards are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses a) immediately at the grant date if no vesting conditions are required; or b) for share options or restricted shares granted with only service conditions, using the straight-line vesting method, net of estimated forfeitures, over the vesting period; or c) for share options where the underlying share is liability within the scope of ASC 480, using the graded vesting method, net of estimated forfeitures, over the vesting period, and re-measuring the fair value of the award at each reporting period end until the award is settled. All transactions in which goods or services are received in exchange for equity instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. In April 2019, the Company adopted ASU 2018-07, “Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting”. Upon the adoption of this guidance, the Group no longer re-measures equity-classified share-based awards granted to consultants or non-employees at each reporting date through the vesting period and the accounting for these share-based awards to consultants or non-employees and employees was substantially aligned. Share-based compensation expenses for share options and restricted shares granted to non-employees are measured at fair value at the date when such awards are granted and recognized over the period during which the service from the non-employees is provided. The binomial option-pricing model is used to measure the value of share options. The determination of the fair value is affected by the fair value of the ordinary shares as well as assumptions including the expected share price volatility, actual and projected employee and non-employee share option exercise behavior, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends. The assumptions used in share-based compensation expense recognition represent management’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and application of management judgment. If factors change or different assumptions are used, the share-based compensation expenses could be materially different for any period. Moreover, the estimates of fair value of the awards are not intended to predict actual future events or the value that ultimately will be realized by grantees who receive share-based awards, and subsequent events are not indicative of the reasonableness of the original estimates of fair value made by the Company for accounting purposes. For restricted shares granted by one of the Company’s subsidiaries to employees, determination of related estimated fair values (the subsidiaries are not publicly traded) requires complex and subjective judgments due to limited financial and operating history, unique business risks and limited comparable public information. Key inputs and assumptions underlying the determined fair value of these restricted shares include but are not limited to the pricing of recent rounds of financing, future cash flow forecasts, discount rates, and liquidity factors relevant to each of the respective subsidiaries. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Group uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting options and records share-based compensation expenses only for those awards that are expected to vest. |
| Comprehensive income/(loss) | (aa) Comprehensive income/(loss) The Group applies ASC 220, Comprehensive Income, |
| Leases | (ab) Leases As the lessee, the Group recognizes in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, the Group makes an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities and recognizes lease expenses for such lease generally on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Operating lease assets are included within right-of-use assets— operating lease, and the corresponding operating lease liabilities are included within operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. Finance lease assets are included within other non-current assets, and the corresponding finance lease liabilities are included within accruals and other liabilities for the current portion, and within other non-current liabilities on the Group’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2021. |
| Dividends | (ac) Dividends Dividends are recognized when declared. No dividends were declared for the the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020 and 2021. |
| Earnings/(Loss) per share | (ad) Earnings/(Loss) per share Basic earnings/(loss) per share is computed by dividing net income/(loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares, considering the accretions to redemption value of the preferred shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights. Diluted earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the accretion and allocation of net income related to the preferred shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of shares issuable upon the conversion of the preferred shares using the if-converted method, unvested restricted shares, restricted share units and ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding share options (using the treasury stock method). Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive. |
| Segment reporting | (ae) Segment reporting ASC 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for companies to report in their financial statements information about operating segments, products, services, geographic areas, and major customers. Based on the criteria established by ASC 280, the Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. As a whole and hence, the Group has only one reportable segment. The Group does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. As the Group’s long-lived assets are substantially located in the PRC, no geographical segments are presented. |
