NIO ES8 reached 120,000 deliveries in 275 days

Earlier today, the third-generation large EV SUV officially celebrated delivery of its 120,000th vehicle, marking what can fairly be described as a successful generational update. The milestone comes as the Chinese EV maker prepares to expand the ES8 lineup. The company announced earlier today that the five-seat ES8 will open for pre-orders on June 28 

NIO completed the delivery of the 120,000th unit of the third-generation ES8 in Shanghai on Monday, reinforcing the large electric SUV’s role as one of the core models in the company’s commercial strategy.

A MILESTONE SUPPORTED BY STRONG DEMAND

The delivery took place at NIO’s Nanxiang center in Shanghai’s Jiading district, 275 days after the first delivery of the third-generation ES8. The achievement highlights sustained demand for the model, which appears to be on track once again to exceed 10,000 monthly deliveries after reaching 110,000 units on May 23.

According to a statement from NIO, the owner of the 120,000th ES8, Ms. Ye, previously drove a large three-row gasoline SUV and cited interior space, ride comfort, intelligent features and the battery swap system as decisive factors in easing her transition to electric mobility.

COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE AND MARKET POSITIONING

Officially launched in September 2025 with a starting price of 406,800 yuan, ($60,100), the third-generation ES8 is a high-margin model and represents an important contributor to NIO’s recent financial improvement.

Data from the China Passenger Car Association show that the ES8 recorded 11,472 retail sales in May, ranking first for the sixth consecutive month both in the large SUV segment and in the 400,000 yuan price bracket. NIO also says the model continued to lead monthly sales of large three-row electric SUVs.

The company interprets these results as a sign of structural change: since overtaking extended-range models in September, large three-row electric SUVs have outsold them for nine consecutive months, suggesting a growing consumer preference for fully electric solutions.

REGIONAL STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP IN KEY MARKETS

NIO’s presence in regional markets remains particularly strong. In May, the company again led the passenger vehicle market in Shanghai and Hefei, ranking first in monthly sales regardless of body style, powertrain or price segment.

According to NIO, the company maintained its leadership in the large SUV segment across the Yangtze River Delta and other key markets for seven consecutive months. In Shanghai, NIO’s penetration of the large SUV market reportedly reached 63.81%, with the ES8 accounting for nearly half of the total.

EXPANSION OF THE ES8 LINEUP

The milestone comes as NIO prepares to broaden the ES8 lineup. The company has announced that the five-seat version will be available for pre-order from June 28 and has said the model will lead large premium five-seat SUVs into the fully electric era.

The ES8 currently on sale is a large three-row SUV, offered in six- and seven-seat configurations. NIO has not yet disclosed final pricing or specifications for the five-seat version, but president Qin Lihong previously said the launch is planned for early July, with deliveries expected around the same time.

According to information filed with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the five-seat version will retain the dimensions of the current ES8, with a length of 5,280 mm and a wheelbase of 3,130 mm. The powertrain will remain a dual-motor setup, with 180 kW on the front axle and 340 kW on the rear axle.

If confirmed, these specifications would make the five-seat ES8 the largest pure electric five-seat SUV currently on sale in China. Its main competitive advantage would be space: removing the third row allows more volume to be allocated to the rear passenger area and cargo compartment.