New Chip & LiDAR Updates

The pace of the electric vehicle market has reached a fever pitch in 2026. Consequently, Nio’s sub-brand, Onvo, is currently at the center of a heated controversy. Just nine months after the initial L90 launch, Nio CEO William Li has officially defended a major hardware refresh. While existing owners worry about depreciation, Li argues that staying still is not an option for smart cars.

Table of Contents

1. The 2026 Onvo L90: What’s New?
2. William Li’s Defense: The Smartphone Analogy
3. The Hardware Retrofit Dilemma
4. Onvo L90 Price & Availability

The 2026 Onvo L90: What’s New?

The refreshed L90 is much more than a simple software update. Instead, it introduces massive hardware changes that were previously reserved for Nio’s flagship models.

• Shenji NX9031 Chip: First, the 2026 model debuts Nio’s in-house 5nm chip. This replaces the previous Nvidia solutions.
• LiDAR Integration: Additionally, a LiDAR-equipped variant is now available. This significantly boosts safety and autonomous driving.
• Coconut OS 3.0: Furthermore, the new operating system reduces CPU usage by 33%. As a result, the voice assistant performs much faster.
• 900V Architecture: Finally, the vehicle remains a leader in charging. It supports ultra-fast 900V charging and 3-minute battery swapping.

William Li’s Defense: The Smartphone Analogy

To address the “early adopter” backlash, William Li used a smartphone analogy. He noted that the EV industry must follow rapid refresh cycles. Because central computing chips evolve so quickly, brands must update annually to remain competitive.

“If we don’t update these latest technologies, we simply cannot compete. Therefore, fast updates are the necessary path for a volume automaker.” — William Li, Nio CEO

However, Li admitted that the refresh affects current owners. Despite this, he believes a financially viable company is the biggest benefit for any user.

The Hardware Retrofit Dilemma

Many original owners have requested a hardware retrofit for the new chip. Nevertheless, Li clarified that this is blocked by two major hurdles. First, Chinese regulations make vehicle inspection compliance nearly impossible after such modifications. Second, the costs are too high. Replacing the Central Computing Cluster is equivalent to a full vehicle teardown.

Onvo L90 Price & Availability (2026)

Onvo has chosen to absorb the higher component costs. As a result, they can maintain a competitive edge against the Tesla Model Y.

Note: Prices in NPR are estimates and do not include Nepal’s specific import taxes.

For more insights into EV trends, check out Bijulidai. Alternatively, explore premium tech updates at Oliz Store.