NIO delivered its 100,000th ES8, setting a premium-model speed record in China

On April 23, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker announced that the 100,000th unit of the new ES8 has been delivered in Beijing, achieved within 215 days, setting a new record in China’s passenger car market for premium models priced above 400,000 yuan ($58,000) 

NIO ES8 hits 100,000 deliveries

NIO reached a new key milestone by delivering its 100,000th third-generation ES8, as sales momentum for the large electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) continues. The company hit the milestone in Beijing on Thursday, an achievement that comes just one day before the opening of the highly anticipated 2026 Beijing Auto Show. 

The owner of the 100,000th third-generation ES8 is Jiang Zheyuan, founder and chairman of Chinese robotics manufacturer Noetix Robotics. William Li, founder, chairman, and CEO of Nio, personally handed over the vehicle to him. 

NIO ES8 hits 100,000 deliveries

Since the start of deliveries, the all-new ES8 reached the milestone of 100,000 units delivered in 215 days, setting a new sales and delivery record for premium vehicles priced above 400,000 yuan ($58,000) in China’s passenger car market, NIO said. 

From a delivery trajectory perspective, the new ES8 surpassed 10,000 units within 41 days of launch and reached 40,000 units in 100 days. Entering 2026, it added another 60,000 units within just four months. 

After crossing the 90,000-unit milestone earlier this month, it took only 20 days to exceed 100,000 units, indicating continued acceleration in deliveries. 

In terms of sales mix, the ES8 has become a core pillar for NIO. In March, NIO delivered 35,486 vehicles in total, of which the new ES8 accounted for 16,255 units, representing nearly half of total volume. 

NIO ES8 hits 100,000 deliveries

Official data show that from October 2025 to March 2026, across six full delivery months, the new ES8 recorded cumulative retail sales of 84,810 units, ranking first in both the large SUV segment and the premium segment above 400,000 yuan ($58,000). 

In the first quarter of 2026, the model ranked first in large SUV sales across 77 cities nationwide and led the 400,000 yuan ($58,000)-plus segment in 48 cities. This performance reflects a structural shift in demand. 

While premium SUVs were historically dominated by internal combustion models, improvements in charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, along with advances in intelligent features, are accelerating the transition toward battery electric vehicles. 

NIO ES8 hits 100,000 deliveries

At the product level, the new ES8’s large size, six-seat configuration and battery swapping ecosystem enhance its suitability for both family and business use cases, underpinning its rapid volume growth. 

To maintain sales momentum for the high-margin model, NIO extended its car-buying incentives in April. This includes retaining a limited-time purchase tax subsidy of 10,000 yuan for buyers. 

The company also plans to launch a five-seat version of the third-generation ES8 in early July to attract more potential buyers. The currently available ES8 models only offer six- and seven-seat configurations.