Nio ES8 holds top position in China's full-size SUV market for the third consecutive month

The third-generation Nio ES8 delivered 11,260 retail units in February 2026, holding the top position in China's large SUV market for the third consecutive month — more than double the volume of its nearest rival, the Zeekr 9X, which posted 4,878 units

Nio's third-generation ES8

The result came despite one of China's most disruptive automotive slow seasons in years. The 2026 Chinese New Year holiday ran from February 15 to 23 — the longest on record — leaving only 16 working days in the month, three fewer than the prior year. 

China's Passenger Car Association (CPCA) had flagged February as the year's likely sales trough. Against that backdrop, the ES8's volume still represented a 65.8% year-on-year increase for the Nio main brand, which delivered 15,159 units in total during the month. The ES8 accounted for 54.14% of Nio total February deliveries of 20,797 units, and 74.28% of Nio main brand volumes. In the fourth quarter of 2025, the SUV delivered 39,697 units, accounting for 32% of the company's record total deliveries during the same period. 

Cumulative deliveries of the third-generation model reached 71,260 units through the end of February, having passed the 70,000-unit milestone on February 27 in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. The 80,000th delivery is now expected before the end of March, according to Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong. 

The February segment ranking illustrated the scale of Nio's lead. Behind the Zeekr 9X at 4,878 units, the Aito M8 placed third at 3,992 units and the Aito M9 fourth at 3,085 units. The Lynk & Co 900 rounded out the top five at 2,153 units, followed by the Denza N8L (1,423), Onvo L90 (1,317), IM LS9 (1,306), Li Auto L9 (1,082), and Voyah Taishan (1,040). 

The ES8's tally exceeded the combined total of the second through fifth-placed models — a gap that reflects both the model's launch momentum and the holiday-suppressed volumes across the rest of the field. 

The model was officially launched on September 20, 2025, at Nio Day in Hangzhou, with deliveries beginning the following day. Its ramp from launch to 50,000 units took just 120 days, a pace Nio described as among the fastest for any battery electric vehicle priced above 400,000 yuan (c. $58,100) in China. 

Built on Nio's 900-volt NT3.0 platform, the ES8 pairs dual motors producing 520 kW of peak power and 700 Nm of torque, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.97 seconds. The standard battery is a 102 kWh 4C pack with a CLTC-rated range of 635 km (395 miles). A 120 kWh 5C pack is planned for future introduction. 

The SUV measures 5,280 mm long, 2,010 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall with a 3,130 mm wheelbase, and is offered in six- and seven-seat configurations. Its onboard perception suite includes 31 sensors, among them a roof-mounted LiDAR, and the vehicle runs Nio's proprietary SkyOS operating system alongside an in-house Shenji NX9031 driving chip. 

Pricing starts at 406,800 yuan (c. $59,100) with the battery included, or 298,800 yuan (c. $43,400) under Nio's Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription plan. The Signature Edition tops out at 446,800 yuan (c. $64,900) with battery, or 338,800 yuan (c. $49,200) under BaaS.