NIO starts nationwide deliveries of 5-seat ES8 SUV in China

NIO began nationwide deliveries of its 5-seat ES8 SUV in China on Friday, as the Chinese EV maker seeks to cement its lead in the premium large SUV market with a more complete product lineup. Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li, along with co-founder and president Qin Lihong, attended the delivery ceremony and handed over the new vehicles to the first batch of users. 

Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li (second from left) and the company's cofounder and president Qim Lihong (first from right) delivered the five-seat ES8 to the first customers

The 5-seat ES8 comes in two trims. The 5-seat Executive Luxury version starts at 382,800 yuan ($56,470) for the full-vehicle purchase, or 274,800 yuan ($40,450) under the BaaS (battery as a service) battery rental plan. The 5-seat Executive Signature version starts at 422,800 yuan ($62,230) for the full-vehicle purchase, or 314,800 yuan ($46,340) under the battery rental plan. 

NIO said the first batch of users receiving deliveries came from a range of industries, including business owners, seasoned investors and serious outdoor enthusiasts. They included both longtime users loyal to the brand and new customers upgrading or switching from traditional luxury brands. 

With the third row of seats removed, the model's cargo capacity is significantly improved. It offers a 230-liter frunk and a 1,334-liter rear trunk, with maximum cargo space reaching 3,084 liters when the second-row seats are folded down. For comparison, the six- and seven-seat versions offer 547 liters of rear cargo space (including hidden storage), 1,791 liters of total front-and-rear storage, and 1,561 liters behind the folded third row. 

The increase is best illustrated by NIO’s own demonstration. What was previously promoted as carrying “12 suitcases for six people” has now become “21 suitcases for five people.” To emphasize the point, NIO founder, chairman and CEO William Li even joked during the launch event: “Five people, 21 suitcases, no pressure. Passenger and cargo space stay elegantly separated. Luxury sedans should upgrade.” 

“Refined” may be the best word to describe the ES8 five-seater. As expected, eliminating the third row gives the vehicle substantially more usable cabin space than its six- and seven-seat siblings. The cabin offers 7.05 square meters of usable interior space. In the second row, headroom measures 1,063 mm, shoulder room reaches 1,530 mm, and maximum legroom extends to 1,376 mm. 

The generous second-row space allows the first- and second-row seats to fold into a nearly flat bed measuring 1,939 mm long, accommodating most adult users comfortably. The front seats remain NIO’s signature “Aviation Zero-Gravity Seats,” featuring 20-way power adjustment, extendable leg rests and one-touch zero-gravity mode. The two rear outboard seats are reclining comfort seats with up to 138 degrees of backrest adjustment, power leg rests, footrests and one-touch relaxation mode. 

Unlike the six- and seven-seat versions, however, the driver’s zero-gravity seat comes standard on the five-seater, further enhancing front-row comfort. The trade-off is reduced seat adjustability. The second-row seats offer eight-way and 10-way adjustment respectively, compared with 22/26-way and 10/12-way adjustment available on the independent-seat configurations of the six- and seven-seat versions. 

Every seat is equipped with ventilation, heating and massage functions. The heating system covers the seat cushion, backrest, leg rest and footrest, with a total heated surface area of 2.1 square meters. For a premium SUV priced above 382,800 yuan ($56,470), NIO believes refinement should extend to the cargo area as well. The ES8 five-seater therefore comes standard with a three-piece folding privacy partition and eco-friendly divider, allowing users to separate passengers from luggage for business or family use.