NIO outsells Mercedes, BMW and Audi in China for the first time

Quarterly sales reached 111,638 vehicles, exceeding each German premium rival’s total. Regional results reinforced that lead across eight provincial-level markets plus 40 cities, as electric models gained ground 

NIO ES8

NIO sold 111,638 vehicles in China in the third quarter of 2026, surpassing Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi simultaneously for the first time, according to terminal sales data from Wilson cited by NIO co-founder and President Qin Lihong.

BMW Group, including MINI, sold 107,210 vehicles during the same period. Mercedes-Benz Group, including Maybach and Smart, sold 99,592, while Audi delivered 94,597.

NIO’s gains were even more pronounced at the regional level. In Q3 2026, NIO outsold the German Luxury Trio in eight provincial-level markets and 40 cities, including major premium-car markets such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. It also outsold two of the three German automakers in 24 cities and one of them in another 30.

The figures suggest NIO’s growth is translating into more direct competition with established German luxury brands across China, rather than being limited to its nationwide quarterly sales total.

The result also reflects demand for NIO’s existing models, rather than simply a larger product lineup.

The new-generation ES8, an SUV priced in the RMB 400K ($59.9K) range, is expected to reach its 160,000th delivery this month, roughly a year after launch. The ES9, priced in the RMB 500K ($74.8K) range, has already exceeded 32K deliveries just five months after launch.

The ES8 and the higher-positioned ES9 together delivered 18,252 vehicles in September, representing 85.62% of the Nio main brand's deliveries and underscoring the importance of large electric SUVs to its sales mix.

NIO’s overall deliveries also continued to rise. The company delivered 37,408 vehicles in September, up 7.7% YoY and 4.3% MoM.

NIO ES9

NIO’s gains come as China’s traditional fuel-powered car market contracts. September sales of luxury internal-combustion vehicles fell 41% YoY, while sales of conventional gasoline-powered vehicles dropped 43%, according to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

At the same time, new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for 67% of the passenger-car market, while battery electric vehicles alone reached a 47.3% share. Both figures set new records. Qin said the shift toward pure electric vehicles as the dominant powertrain is accelerating.

NIO's statement, also citing CPCA, said BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi together held close to 70% of China's premium market in 2018 and less than 40% so far this year.