| | |

Comau Powers The Efficient Automation Production Of Next-Generation Electric Drive Systems For NIO

Comau Powers The Efficient Automation Production Of Next-Generation Electric Drive Systems For NIO

October 12, 2023

Comau Powers The Efficient Automation Production Of Next-Generation Electric Drive Systems For NIO
  • Comau has designed and deployed a flexible automation solution to mass produce NIO’s next-generation electric drive systems
  • The high-performance lines enable co-line production of the customer’s two electric drive systems and are expected to reach a full-scale capacity of 1 million units by the end of 2024
  • The advanced manufacturing environment includes primary e-motor assembly lines, gearbox manufacturing lines and inverter assembly lines, as well as EOL (End of Line) testing processes
  • Comau has also developed an ad-hoc adapter with a zero-point positioner that fully supports different assembly and ensures maximum flexibility for future NIO electric vehicles

Comau has implemented a high-performance turnkey solution to automate manufacturing of NIO’s next-generation electric drive systems. The multi-faceted project also ensures fast and reliable co-line production for the electric vehicle manufacturer’s third-gen induction and permanent magnet motors, both of which are integral parts of its proprietary electric drive systems (EDS). The comprehensive solution includes primary lines such as e-motor assembly lines, gearbox manufacturing and inverter assembly lines, as well as EOL (End of Line) testing processes. It is designed to support a large-scale annual production capacity of 1 million units, to be used within NIO’s electric sedans, coupes and SUVs, as well as select models of its sub-brand ALPS.

Comau’s advanced automation solution delivers optimal flexibility and scalability, allowing the customer to adjust its production environment to accommodate different process parameters as needed for new products. To further increase production line flexibility and enable co-line production of the two electric drive systems, Comau has collaboratively developed a new adapter with zero-point positioner together with NIO’s e-drive team. This innovative accessory effectively unifies design, process, and control standards, allowing different assembly requirements to be met while maintaining maximum flexibility.

Comau’s highly automated manufacturing environment also features 3D vision-guided robots, AGVs for autonomous material supply, and automatic tool-end loading, which have helped significantly enhance the customer’s production efficiency. Furthermore, the widespread use of quadnocular stereovision 3D cameras has allowed Comau to successfully overcome the limitations of vision guidance technology in terms of field of view and gripping range, granting automatic part positioning and assembly in addition to excellent repeatability.

Comau Powers The Efficient Automation Production Of Next-Generation Electric Drive Systems For NIO

“When it comes to implementing cutting-edge technological solutions, experience and know-how play a decisive role in success. We have been deeply impressed by Comau’s extensive expertise in electric drive systems assembly throughout our partnership. The innovative solution has reliably supported the project, helping us overcome various challenges and achieve our desired results,” said Alan Zeng, Senior Vice President of NIO and CEO of XPT. “Our collaboration follows a simultaneous engineering approach, which promotes close cooperation between both parties and drives project progress efficiently. This approach not only ensures progress and cost control but also guarantees the quality, performance and reliability of the final product.”

Alan Zeng, Senior Vice President of NIO and CEO of XPT

“Considering the rapid growth of new energy vehicles in China, a market in which production rates and sales volumes in the first half of 2023 have increased by 42.4% and 44.1% respectively1, the demand for electric drive systems has increased significantly,” explained Jeff Yuan, Comau Head of Countries Cluster APAC. “Our joint effort with NIO to create a highly automated production environment has allowed the customer to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the performance of its next-generation EDS technology.”

Jeff Yuan, Comau Head of Countries Cluster APAC

1Source: CAAM (China Association of Automotive Manufacturers)

Source

Related Story

Comau’s Advanced Automation Solutions Increase Stellantis Manufacturing Efficiency And Flexibility For The Fiat Pulse And Fastback SUVs In Brazil

Comau has designed and deployed its advanced automation solutions at the Stellantis Automotive Plant in Betim – Minas Gerais as part of a comprehensive retooling project to produce both the Fiat Pulse, the brand’s first SUV model in Brazil and the Fiat Fastback, its first SUV Coupe and one of the company’s main launches for the local market. As part of the comprehensive project, Comau has enhanced an existing manufacturing platform to provide high-speed body assembly solutions for the main body, the body sides and the respot operations such that the two distinctly different SUVs could be produced on the same line.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Small Town Infrastructure is Being Retrofitted, Federal Funding Helps Drive This Change

    September 9, 2025 By Krystie Johnston Municipalities across Canada are tackling climate change. From big cities to small towns, every action counts. Densely populated metropolitan areas are usually the first places that experience infrastructure upgrades to public buildings and structures because they need to support the increased demands of a growing population. But small towns… Read More…

  • Bossard is Scaling Front Line Flexibility

    September , 2025 Experience Smart Factory Solutions that Adapt to Your Operators’ Needs at FABTECH 2025 By Krystie Johnston Bossard is bringing the future of assembly and inventory management to FABTECH 2025 from September 8 – 11. Visit them at Booth #B13000, at the North Hall in the Automation Pavilion at McCormick Place in Chicago… Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • WAGO Expands 750 Series with New Functional Safety I/O Modules

    September 12, 2025 WAGO Expands 750 Series with New Functional Safety I/O Modules WAGO is introducing three functional safety I/O modules to be used with WAGO’s PFC controllers. These new 750 Series modules have four safe inputs along with either two safe outputs at 10 A/24 VDC, or four safe outputs at 2 A/24 VDC… Read More…

  • First Controllers in Trio’s Motion-PLC Range Simplify the Design of Stand-Alone Machines

    September 10, 2025 Trio Motion Technology has launched the first controllers from its new Motion-PLC range, designed to provide advanced motion control performance with the functionality and simplicity of a PLC. The new class of controller combines high-performance motion control over EtherCAT plus logic and I/O expansion, enabling faster, simpler machine development. The first models in… Read More…