US-China RelationsChina’s Major Electric Car Maker NIO Faces PR and Legal TroubleSaveMark Us Preferred on GooglePrintVisitors look at a Nio ET Preview car on the opening day of the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai, China, on April 16, 2019. Greg Baker/AFP/Getty ImagesNicole Hao4/25/2019|Updated: 4/25/2019An SUV (sports utility vehicle) manufactured by Chinese electric car maker NIO spontaneously burst into flames on April 22, shocking Chinese netizens. NIO is one of China’s largest electric car manufacturers and a main competitor of the U.S.-based Tesla. We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.