Nio has begun nationwide deliveries of its new five-seat ES8 sport utility vehicle in China, one day after the model officially went on sale, as the electric vehicle maker broadens its offering in the premium large SUV market.
The company announced on its social media platforms that deliveries started immediately following the vehicle’s launch. Nio founder, chairman and chief executive William Li and company president Qin Lihong attended the handover ceremony for the first group of customers.
The five-seat ES8 is offered in two variants. The Executive Luxury model starts at 382,800 yuan for a full-vehicle purchase or 274,800 yuan under Nio’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) subscription program. The higher-specification Executive Signature version is priced from 422,800 yuan, or 314,800 yuan with the battery rental option.
The starting price is 24,000 yuan lower than the entry-level price of the three-row version of the third-generation ES8.
New Configuration Expands Utility
Removing the third row of seats allows the five-seat ES8 to offer increased cargo capacity.
The model features a 230-liter front trunk and a 1,334-liter rear cargo area. With the second-row seats folded, total storage space expands to as much as 3,084 liters, providing greater flexibility for customers seeking additional luggage or equipment space.
Nio said the first customers include business owners, investors, outdoor enthusiasts, existing Nio users upgrading their vehicles and buyers switching from traditional luxury automotive brands.
ES8 Remains a Key Model for Nio
The launch comes as the third-generation ES8 continues to play a central role in Nio’s premium vehicle strategy.
According to the company, the ES8 reached its 120,000th cumulative delivery in late June after deliveries of the third-generation model began in September 2025. Nio said the ES8 has led sales in China’s large SUV segment priced above 400,000 yuan for six consecutive months and ranked first in retail sales within those categories during the first half of 2026.
Demand for the existing model eased ahead of the five-seat launch. June deliveries totaled 8,969 units, down 21.9% from May, ending seven consecutive months in which monthly deliveries exceeded 10,000 vehicles.
Analysts at Deutsche Bank previously said some customers delayed purchases while waiting for the new five-seat version, contributing to Nio’s overall June deliveries falling slightly below company guidance.
Premium Portfolio Continues to Expand
With the addition of the five-seat ES8, Nio now offers multiple seating configurations across the ES8 lineup alongside its flagship ES9, creating a broader portfolio in the premium large SUV segment.
The company said the stronger mix of premium models helped lift the average transaction price for the main Nio brand to 443,000 yuan in June.
William Li said higher raw material costs have increased production costs for each ES8 by nearly 20,000 yuan.
“The cost of each ES8 has risen by nearly 20,000 yuan due to higher raw material prices.”
Li said Nio is working with suppliers to offset part of the increase while seeking to keep vehicle prices stable.
“The ES8 still has some gross margin room, and the cost pressure remains within the company’s tolerance in the short term.”
The company continues to position the expanded ES8 lineup as a key component of its strategy in China’s premium electric SUV market.
