Five-seat Nio ES8. Credit: Nio
- The five-seat ES8 will sit alongside the existing six- and seven-seat versions, further expanding its top-selling SUV line.
- The five-seat ES8 shares the same body dimensions as the three-row version, but with a slightly shorter wheelbase.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) opened pre-orders on Sunday for the five-seat version of its large electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) ES8, with the official launch set for July 9.
The company said today that display cars for the five-seat ES8 are now available at stores, and customers can visit to take a look starting immediately. The model targets the premium large five-seat SUV market.
Customers placing pre-orders can lock in a limited-time benefit, under which a 5,000 yuan ($740) deposit can be applied as a 10,000 yuan discount on the purchase price. The dedicated pre-order channel will close once order locking begins.
Nio’s founder, chairman and CEO William Li said in a speech today that the new five-seat ES8 will drive large five-seat SUVs into the all-electric era, making the ES8 a more enduring “king” in the large SUV market.
He also encouraged customers to lock in the benefits soon, and suggested they focus on experiencing the second row when visiting stores.
The addition of the five-seat version will broaden the customer reach of Nio’s current top-selling model. The third-generation ES8 on sale is a large three-row SUV, offered in six- and seven-seat versions.
The five-seat ES8 carries over the lineup’s large body, measuring 5,280 millimeters long, 2,010 millimeters wide and 1,800 millimeters tall, with a wheelbase of 3,130 millimeters.
Its body dimensions are the same as the three-row ES8, but its wheelbase is slightly shorter than the three-row version’s 3,250 mm.
In terms of cargo capacity, the five-seat ES8 offers a maximum loading space of 3,084 liters with the second row folded down. Its frunk holds 230 liters, while the rear trunk holds 1,334 liters.
The model is built on a 900-volt high-voltage architecture and uses a dual-motor system. It comes standard with a 102-kWh battery pack, offering a CLTC range of 655 kilometers.
Its smart driving assistance features a new version of the “Cedar” system, powered by Nio’s in-house developed Shenji NX9031 chip.
The move comes as the ES8 reaches an important milestone. June 28 marks the eighth anniversary of the ES8’s first deliveries, with the model having served more than 210,000 users to date.
At today’s event, Nio donated the No. 0001 ES8 to the Beijing Auto Museum for its collection. It was the first ES8 delivered eight years ago.
The third-generation ES8 was launched in September 2025 with a starting price of 406,800 yuan. It is a high-margin model and a key driver behind Nio’s recent financial turnaround.
The model has sold strongly since its launch. The ES8 delivered 11,475 units in May, surpassing the 10,000 mark for the seventh straight month.
Nio ES8 Monthly Deliveries 2024-2026
Month
2024
2025
2026
January
615
446
17,658
February
414
479
11,271
March
802
514
16,255
April
773
539
13,028
May
937
292
11,475
June
882
839
July
822
1,090
August
857
87
September
766
2,812
October
747
6,716
November
572
10,705
December
1,001
22,276
Nio ES8 monthly deliveries
2024
2025
2026
In the first five months of this year, cumulative ES8 deliveries reached 69,690 units, accounting for 46.30% of Nio Inc’s total deliveries over the same period, underscoring its central role.
The five-seat version’s debut comes as Nio seeks to boost overall sales through a dense series of new product launches. The pricier flagship SUV ES9 was launched on May 27 with a starting price of 498,000 yuan.
The third-generation ES8 has reached 120,000 deliveries in 275 days since its launch in late September 2025.
($1 = 6.7982 yuan)
