NIO sues companies over counterfeit NOMI AI systems
NIO filed lawsuits against multiple companies for producing counterfeit versions of NOMI, its in-vehicle AI interactive system. The automaker alleged the counterfeits posed safety risks including component detachment during collisions and lacked proper vehicle-specification verification, while also copying NOMI's design elements.
What happened
NIO's legal department announced on June 12, 2026, that it had discovered proliferating counterfeiting and imitation of NOMI, NIO's in-vehicle intelligent interactive system deployed since 2017, in the market. Some merchants without authorization produced and sold electronic products with similar physical appearance to NOMI and distributed them through online channels.
NIO identified two types of infringement: counterfeiters copying NOMI's physical form, and others copying its core design elements including visual expressions, interaction logic, and interface layout for use in other vehicle cabins. NIO also alleged that some social media accounts and self-media outlets fabricated false comparison content and misleading interactive scenarios to defame NOMI and mislead consumers.
Reported impact
NIO stated that counterfeit products had not undergone vehicle-specification verification and were prone to failures in complex conditions such as high temperatures, electromagnetic interference, and vehicle vibration, with risks including circuit short circuits and component detachment. In extreme cases, these unverified components could become detached or shatter during vehicle collisions or emergency braking, potentially causing secondary injuries to occupants.
NIO warned that counterfeit products copying NOMI's design elements lacked proper safety architecture and could exhibit unintended triggering and response lag in actual driving scenarios, increasing driver cognitive load and affecting driving safety. Counterfeit products also lacked the safety performance validation that NOMI Mate achieved through C-NCAP and E-NCAP certifications.
Index analysis
The incident reflects intellectual property infringement through both physical product counterfeiting and design copying in the automotive AI sector. The counterfeits targeted NOMI Mate, which has delivered nearly 50 industry-first or leading features and technical breakthroughs since its 2017 launch.
Governance controls
NIO stated it completed notarized preservation of evidence of infringement and filed civil lawsuits and administrative complaints against the Zhejiang company, Guangzhou company, and Shanghai company. NIO indicated a zero-tolerance policy toward counterfeiting and stated it would pursue multiple legal remedies to protect intellectual property and defend industry health.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.