Third-gen Nio ES8 began shipments to delivery centers ahead of launch in China

The third-gen Nio ES8 electric SUV began shipments to delivery centers in China ahead of the launch scheduled for September 20. Nio officials claimed that deliveries would kick off immediately after the sales start. The new ES8’s entry-level trim costs 308,800 yuan (43,340 USD) thanks to the Battery-as-a-Service option.

The ES8 is Nio’s first mass-produced car, launched in 2018. The second generation of the ES8 entered China in 2023. However, in 2025, Nio’s flagship delivered only 4,276 units. Nio is prepared to launch the third-gen ES8 with deliveries scheduled for September.

Nio ES8 III shipments

On September 15, Nio shared photos of the third-gen ES8 crossovers being loaded on car carriers at the company’s factory in Hefei, Anhui province. These aren’t just vehicles for displays or test drives. According to Nio officials, released images show the beginning of nationwide shipments of the all-new ES8 that will start deliveries immediately after the launch scheduled for September 20.

The photos from the factory show the Nio ES8 finished in black, blue, and beige. These vehicles have 21-inch or 22-inch wheels with two design variants. Judging by the photos, Chinese customers prefer buying vehicles with multi-spoke chrome-plated rims. All versions of the third-gen ES8 come standard with a LiDAR sensor and two cameras on the roof.

More about Nio ES8

The Nio ES8 is the biggest China-made battery electric SUV. Its dimensions are 5280/2010/1800 mm. The wheelbase reaches 3,130 mm. For clarity, it is 181 mm longer, 21 mm wider, and 50 mm longer than the second-gen ES8. The new model is available with six-seat (2+2+2) and seven-seat (2+3+2) layouts. Core features of the ES8’s exterior include dual-layer running lights and headlights, hidden door handles, and six body colors.

The ES8’s interior adopts three screens, a three-spoke steering wheel, a stalk-mounted gear shifter, and a 38-inch augmented reality head-up display. Additional interior features include five-zone climate control, folding tables, a refrigerator, 27 speakers for 2,600 W, and a 21.4-inch rear ceiling-mounted display with 3K resolution. Cargo space is 547 L, expandable to 3,230 L with seats folded, with an additional 230-litre front trunk.

The Nio ES8 III adopts a dual-motor 4WD with a peak power output of 520 kW (697 hp). Its peak torque reaches 700 Nm. As a result, this crossover speeds up to 100 km/h in 4 seconds. A 102 kWh battery pack provides a CLTC range of 635 km with energy consumption of 16.6 kWh per 100 km.

The new Nio ES8 has a price range of 416,800 – 456,000 yuan (58,500 – 64,110 USD). With a battery-as-a-service subscription, it could be bought for 308,800 – 348,800 yuan (43,340 – 48,960 USD). We will remind you that the second-generation Nio ES8 started from 518,000 yuan (72,820 USD) with a battery included. So, the new vehicle became 101,200 yuan (14,320 USD) cheaper than its predecessor. According to William Li, this pricing will help Nio maintain its competitiveness in the fierce market.