It measures 5.28 meters, has 707 horsepower, and after being on the market for 365 days, it has achieved 150,000 sales: this giant electric SUV is selling like hotcakes.

16/09/2026 13:30

Updated to

16/09/2026 13:30

The NIO ES8 has become one of the key drivers of growth for the Chinese company. The third generation of this large electric SUV is on track to reach 150,000 units delivered since its launch, and according to NIO’s founder and CEO, William Li, this milestone will be achieved this week.

The figure is particularly striking given the vehicle’s size. The ES8 is by no means a small and affordable electric car: it measures 5,280 mm in length, has a wheelbase of 3,130 mm, and offers five- and six-seater interior configurations. In China, its starting price includes the battery at 382,800 yuan, which is approximately 45,800 euros at current exchange rates. With the BaaS battery leasing system, the initial price drops to 274,800 yuan, around 32,900 euros.

140,000 to 150,000 units in just a few days

William Li revealed the new target during a live broadcast on September 13. According to the executive, NIO expects cumulative deliveries of the third-generation ES8 to exceed 150,000 units this week. The announcement comes just a few days after the manufacturer achieved another particularly significant milestone. The ES8 reached 140,000 units delivered in only 335 days since the start of deliveries for this third generation.

NIO now aims to add another 10,000 units and quickly surpass the 150,000-unit mark, a progression that reflects the high production and demand rates sustained by this model. The pace remains quite fast as well. NIO delivered 10,999 ES8 units in August, a 6.91% increase from July. From January to August 2026, the SUV has seen a total of 99,946 units delivered, making it a key contributor to the brand’s sales performance.

NIO attributes much of this popularity to the repositioning brought about by the third generation. The new ES8 features larger dimensions and advanced technology, while also adopting a more aggressive pricing strategy to compete in China’s competitive market for premium electric SUVs.

Up to 707 HP and battery swap in just a few minutes

The ES8 features a dual electric motor setup with all-wheel drive, delivering combined power of 707 HP along with a maximum torque of 700 Nm. Despite its size, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Its battery has a capacity of 102 kWh, enabling a range of up to 655 km according to the Chinese CLTC cycle. The SUV also supports fast charging at up to 420 kW, though one of its key advantages over many competitors remains the ability to use NIO’s battery swap station network.

In them, the driver can automatically replace a depleted battery with a charged one in about three minutes, eliminating the need to stay connected to a charger during long trips. The company is also developing a future 120 kWh battery that should allow the vehicle to regain around 250 km of range in 5 minutes through fast charging.