The venue of Nio Day 2025. Credit: CnEVPost
- Nio has opened applications for the Nio Day 2026 user advisory group, formally kicking off preparations for its flagship annual gathering.
- Nio Day 2025 was held on September 20 last year, the first time the event was moved to the fall from its usual year-end timing.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) has begun preparations for Nio Day 2026, starting to recruit an advisory group from its user community.
The company announced on Tuesday that it has officially opened applications for the Nio Day 2026 user advisory group. The application deadline is 4:00 pm Beijing Time on June 18.
Nio said it will conduct an initial screening based on the application materials and will announce the members of the advisory group in late June.
Selected users will be deeply involved in preparations for the event, from the experience flow to process design, as well as celebrity invitations and user performances.
The company said advisory group members’ suggestions will reach the decision-making center directly, and members will receive an exclusive in-app badge along with a physical pin.
Nio is recruiting for five types of roles this time, covering music co-creation, outdoor experiences, stage content, volunteer coordination, and art curation.
Applicants must be Nio owners or customers who have paid a deposit, and need to have experience in areas such as large-scale event planning, content directing, or art curation.
Nio Day is Nio’s most important annual event, and since its debut in 2017, each edition has been accompanied by major product and technology launches.
The gathering was once known for its hefty spending. In recent years, however, the company has begun to pay more attention to the cost-effectiveness of the event, with one notable change reflected in the choice of host city.
In the past, the host city for Nio Day was decided by a vote from the user community, a practice that began with the 2020 edition in Chengdu and continued for several years.
But starting last year, Nio adjusted its strategy and switched to deciding the host city on its own, partly to control costs.
Nio Day 2025 was held on September 20 last year in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, the first time the event was moved to autumn from its usual year-end timing.
The event served as the official launch stage for the third-generation ES8 SUV (sport utility vehicle), a model that has now become key to Nio’s turnaround.
The third-generation ES8 starts at 406,800 yuan ($60,204), and this high-margin model is driving the company’s financial improvement.
The model delivered 11,475 units in May, the seventh straight month it surpassed the 10,000-unit mark.
Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong said earlier this month that the new ES8 is on track to complete its 120,000th delivery within June.
Meanwhile, the larger flagship SUV ES9, which went on sale on May 27, has also shown strong demand and will see its 10,000th delivery this month.
With a richer product lineup, Nio’s’ total deliveries in June are expected to be between 43,000 and 48,000 units, according to guidance it released earlier.
The company delivered 37,705 vehicles in May, a record high so far this year.
As for which city will host Nio Day 2026, and what new products or technologies it will bring, that remains to be seen.
Since 2017, every Nio Day has featured major product and technology launches.
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