Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li (second from left) and the company’s co-founder and president Qin Lihong (first from right) delivered vehicles to the first five customers of the five-seat ES8. Credit: Nio
- ES8 deliveries fell 21.85% sequentially in June and the launch of the 5-seat version is expected to revive the model’s momentum.
- The 5-seat ES8 starts at 382,800 yuan ($56,470) including the battery pack, 5.9% lower than the three-row version.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) began nationwide deliveries of its 5-seat ES8 SUV (sport utility vehicle) in China on Friday, as the EV (electric vehicle) maker seeks to cement its lead in the premium large SUV market with a more complete product lineup.
The company said on its social media accounts that the 5-seat ES8 achieved “deliveries starting right after launch.” This is just one day after the model officially went on sale on Thursday night.
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.
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 under the BaaS (battery as a service) battery rental plan.
The 5-seat Executive Signature version starts at 422,800 yuan for the full-vehicle purchase, or 314,800 yuan under the battery rental plan.
That pricing is 24,000 yuan, or 5.9%, lower than the 406,800 yuan starting price of the three-row version of the third-generation ES8, in line with earlier market expectations that the 5-seat version would be cheaper.
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.
The launch of 5-seat deliveries comes as the third-generation ES8 maintains strong sales momentum. The model reached its 120,000th delivery on June 22, 275 days after the first batch of deliveries began at the end of September 2025.
Nio said the ES8 has topped sales in China’s large SUV segment and the 400,000-yuan price tier for 6 consecutive months. In the first half of 2026, its retail sales ranked first in both of these segments.
However, the impending launch of the 5-seat version dampened demand in the short term. The ES8 delivered 8,969 units in June, down 21.85% month-on-month, ending a streak of 7 consecutive months with monthly deliveries exceeding 10,000 units.
Deutsche Bank analysts had noted that weak ES8 deliveries were the main reason Nio’s overall June deliveries came in slightly below guidance, as some consumers chose to hold off and wait for the 5-seat version to launch.
With the 5-seat version now entering delivery, the ES8 lineup forms a complete range combining 5-seat and 6/7-seat configurations. Together with the flagship ES9, which went on sale in May with a starting price of 498,000 yuan, Nio has built a product matrix covering the premium large SUV market.
Driven by its flagship models, the main Nio brand’s average transaction price reached 443,000 yuan in June. Deutsche Bank expects Nio to achieve non-GAAP breakeven in the second quarter, given the strong contribution from high-margin models.
At the same time, cost pressures are emerging. William Li said at a media briefing on Friday morning that the cost of each ES8 has risen by nearly 20,000 yuan due to higher raw material prices.
Li said Nio is working with its supply chain partners to find ways to hedge part of the cost and try to keep prices stable.
He added that the ES8 still has some gross margin room, and that the cost pressure remains within the company’s tolerance in the short term.
Li has previously said the 5-seat version would make the ES8 a more enduring “king” of the large SUV market.
The 5-seat ES8 starts at 382,800 yuan ($56,340) with battery included, 5.9% below 3-row version.
($1 = 6.7793 yuan)
