Chinese battery and electric car manufacturer Nio is trying to increase its investments in Europe. Accordingly, the latest claims that emerged have revealed that it is in talks with Audi . Nio and Audi are said to be in talks for the sale of a factory in Belgium.

Nio could buy Audi’s Belgian factory

Nio is considering buying the Audi factory in Belgium as part of its bid to expand its presence in Europe . The factory, located in Vorst near Brussels, is currently used by Audi to produce the Q8 e-tron SUV, but Audi plans to halt production in the coming months.

Nio has struggled to break into the European market and has delivered only a few hundred vehicles in 2021 and 2022. Buying the Belgian factory could help the company boost its sales in Europe and avoid EU tariffs of 20 percent on vehicles imported from China.

But it is not yet clear whether Nio will make that move. The company has reportedly been in talks with Audi and has not made a formal offer. Analysts said Nio is considering its performance in Europe to date and whether buying the factory makes financial sense.

It should also be noted that the two manufacturers have previously been involved in a legal dispute over trademark infringement. Therefore, a possible deal between Nio and Audi will be quite interesting for both companies. Of course, considering that Nio is trying to accelerate its expansion plans in Europe, the deal is still possible.