How does the NIO coffee machine service at swap stations work?
NIO has installed fully automatic coffee machines at a battery swap station in Shanghai's Minxin Tea City, now in trial operation. Drivers order through a mobile mini-program from inside the car; a robotic arm delivers freshly made drinks to the driver's window, while bottled beverages are handed over by station staff. NIO launched its own coffee brand in 2022.
The company says it will adjust the equipment based on feedback and may extend the coffee service nationwide. Owners have welcomed the convenience, describing the pickup as smooth, though some say they would not visit a station just for coffee. Questions about safety and how far the use scenario can expand remain part of the discussion.
The new energy vehicle brand NIO created its own coffee brand as early as 2022, offering exclusive beverages to customers who visit its stores. Recently, some car owners discovered that this coffee service has extended from the stores to battery swap stations, where fully automatic coffee machines have been installed and are now in the testing phase. After users place orders through a mobile mini-program, the coffee is precisely delivered to the driver's window by a robotic arm, while bottled beverages are handed over by staff. Currently, only the Minxin Tea City battery swap station in Shanghai has launched a trial operation of "Power-Up Coffee." The brand says it will adjust the equipment based on feedback and may expand the service nationwide in the future. This crossover service has drawn praise from car owners and also sparked discussions about safety and expansion of use scenarios.
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The car brand NIO launched its own coffee brand as early as 2022, providing exclusive beverage service to customers who visit its stores, allowing car owners to enjoy a good cup of coffee while buying a car or getting maintenance. Recently, however, some NIO owners discovered that the brand's coffee service is no longer limited to stores, but has appeared in battery swap stations.
According to car owners' sharing, the fully automatic coffee machine installed at this battery swap station is still in the testing stage. Users driving into the station can place orders inside their cars by scanning the mini-program code with their phones. If they choose freshly made coffee beverages, the machine will prepare them on the spot, and then a robotic arm will deliver the finished product to the driver's window, where users can take it with a simple reach. If it is bottled coffee, staff at the battery swap station will hand it over directly.
After the news spread, many car owners drove to the site to experience it, praising the design as very thoughtful and convenient for people who need their caffeine fix. Some car owners described the pickup process as a "smooth experience," while others said they were "very satisfied" and admitted that they "wouldn't go to swap batteries specifically for coffee, but if it's there, I'd definitely grab a cup while I'm at it."
Most people approve of the coffee service supporting NIO's battery swap stations and are calling on the brand to promote it nationwide so that car owners everywhere can experience the comfort of drinking coffee while waiting for their vehicle to swap batteries. Netizens also actively offered suggestions to the brand, believing that in addition to selling beverages, battery swap stations could also offer simple meals such as hot dogs, burgers, and bread, allowing users to solve breakfast in one stop, achieve "dual energy replenishment" for both car and person, and attain "ultra-long range."
In addition, some suggested that the coffee at NIO battery swap stations could target a broader consumer group. At present, some NIO stores have already launched delivery services, so coffee lovers who are not brand users can also buy store-exclusive special blends through the platform for a taste. From this perspective, battery swap stations could likewise open external windows to attract non-users to come and experience the thoughtful service NIO provides to car owners, and these passersby might thereby be converted into potential brand customers.
However, some people do not quite agree with selling freshly made beverages inside battery swap stations, worrying that when users drink coffee in the station, they may accidentally spill the beverage onto the battery swap equipment, thereby causing a safety accident. Therefore, they believe that although the coffee service provided by the brand is thoughtful, the potential risks should not be ignored.
At present, only the Minxin Tea City battery swap station in Shanghai has started a trial operation of "Power-Up Coffee" nationwide. According to staff at the station, this coffee service is still in the trial operation stage, during which customer feedback will be collected and the coffee machine will be retested and adjusted. In the future, the service may be promoted to battery swap stations nationwide and support car owners in placing orders in advance through the mini-program, further improving the experience.
In addition, the staff said that more product categories may be added on the existing basis in the future to provide users with more choices. As for the meal service envisioned by car owners, it may also become a reality in the future, allowing consumers to enjoy snacks and meals while drinking coffee.
Image source: Xiaohongshu
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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
