Nio is preparing to unveil its third-generation ES8 SUV in the coming months, with the model recently spotted undergoing road tests in China, according to images shared by a local automotive blogger.
The company previously confirmed the vehicle would be introduced at its annual Nio Day event, which has been moved to the fall to align with the peak sales season in the fourth quarter.
The third-generation ES8, listed last month in a regulatory filing from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, features a larger body compared with its predecessor. The updated SUV measures 5,280 mm in length, 2,010 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm. The second-generation model, launched in late 2022, measured 5,099 mm in length with a wheelbase of 3,070 mm.
Nio’s new ES8 will be available in both six- and seven-seat configurations, continuing its role as a flagship SUV in the company’s product lineup. However, market observers suggest the model may adopt more mainstream technology compared to Nio’s more premium 9-series vehicles, as the brand looks to drive higher sales volumes in the full-size SUV segment.
The ES8 was first introduced in December 2017 as Nio’s debut production model and has undergone a platform shift with the second-generation version based on the NT 2.0 architecture. With the launch of the ES9 expected to offer more advanced features, the upcoming ES8 may serve as a more accessible large SUV within Nio’s portfolio, which starts at RMB 498,000 ($69,400) with battery included.
