Nio delivered its 120,000th third-generation ES8 on June 22, 2026. Credit: Nio
- The third-generation ES8 has reached 120,000 deliveries in 275 days since its launch in late September 2025.
- The milestone comes as Nio prepares to open pre-orders for the five-seat ES8 on June 28.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) completed the delivery of its 120,000th third-generation ES8 in Shanghai on Monday, further cementing the large electric SUV (sport utility vehicle) as the company’s mainstay model.
The company held the delivery ceremony at its Nanxiang delivery center in Shanghai’s Jiading district, 275 days after the third-generation ES8’s first delivery.
The milestone underscores the continued strong market momentum of the third-generation ES8, suggesting its deliveries this month are again on track to exceed 10,000 units. The model reached 110,000 deliveries only about a month ago, on May 23.
In May, the ES8 delivered 11,475 units, breaking the 10,000-unit mark for the seventh consecutive 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
Ms. Ye, the owner of the 120,000th ES8, was previously a user of a gasoline-powered large three-row SUV. She said what she valued most was the model’s generationally leading product strength in space layout, ride quality, and intelligence, according to a Nio statement.
Ms. Ye also said Nio’s battery swap system eased her refueling concerns about switching from gasoline to electric. The recognition of the brand among Nio owners around her was also an important reason for her choice of Nio.
The third-generation ES8 officially launched in September 2025, with a starting price of 406,800 yuan ($60,100). It is a high-margin model and a key factor driving Nio’s recent financial turnaround.
The model has sold strongly since its launch. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed that the ES8 posted retail sales of 11,472 units in May, ranking first for the sixth consecutive month in both the large SUV and the 400,000-yuan-class markets.
The third-generation ES8 continued to lead monthly sales of all-electric large three-row SUVs in May, across all energy types, Nio said. Since overtaking in September last year, all-electric large three-row SUVs have outsold extended-range models for nine straight months.
This shows that all-electric is becoming consumers’ top priority, with an irreversible structural shift in the market, Nio said. The company said the golden age of all-electric large three-row SUVs has arrived.
Nio’s strength in regional markets is equally evident. In May, the company again topped the passenger vehicle markets in both Shanghai and Hefei, becoming the monthly sales champion regardless of body style, energy type, or price range.
Nio Inc has led the large SUV market in the Yangtze River Delta and other bellwether markets for seven consecutive months, with penetration in Shanghai’s large SUV market reaching as high as 63.81%, according to the company.
This means that for every three large SUVs sold in Shanghai, two come from Nio Inc, with the ES8 accounting for nearly half of the total, the company said.
The milestone comes as Nio prepares to expand the ES8 lineup. The company announced earlier today that the five-seat ES8 will open for pre-orders on June 28.
Nio said the five-seat ES8 will lead premium large five-seat SUVs into the all-electric era. The third-generation ES8 currently on sale is a large three-row SUV, offered in six-seat and seven-seat versions.
The company has not yet disclosed pricing or specification details for the five-seat version. Nio president Qin Lihong previously said the model will launch in early July, with deliveries to begin around the same time.
The five-seat version’s rollout comes as Nio seeks to boost overall sales through a dense stream of new product launches. The higher-priced flagship SUV ES9 launched on May 27, with a starting price of 498,000 yuan.
Nio will bring the five-seat ES8 to showrooms on June 28, opening pre-orders the same day.
($1 = 6.7693 yuan)
