The Nio ES8 is a battery electric full-size luxury crossover SUV manufactured by Chinese electric car company Nio. The ES8 was put into production in June 2018[1] for the Chinese market, and on 30 September 2021 it was launched in Norway.[2]
| Nio ES8 | |
|---|---|
Third generation (2025) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nio Inc. |
| Production | 2018–present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury crossover SUV |
| Body style | 5-door SUV |
First generation (2018–2023)
edit| First generation | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 2018–2023 |
| Assembly | China: Hefei, Anhui |
| Designer | Park Soo-wan, Salvatore Aita, Jim Baste, Vasiliy Kurkov, Suh Ju-ho, Kris Tomasson[3] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Dual-motor, all-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | AC induction/asynchronous, Permanent magnet motor |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct-drive reduction |
| Battery | |
| Electric range | 500 km (311 mi) WLTP with 100kWh battery |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,010 mm (118.5 in) |
| Length | 5,022 mm (197.7 in) |
| Width | 1,962 mm (77.2 in) |
| Height | 1,756 mm (69.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,460 kg (5,423 lb) |
The first generation ES8 was first unveiled in December 2017 and production started in 2018. The name ES8 is derived from E means "Electric", S means "SUV", the ES8 is an SUV and 8 refers to its model range in Nio's Performance product range i.e., 1–9, "9" being the top of the range.
Nio tested[5] the vehicle for thousands of kilometres in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, China, and Australia to test the car's winter and summer economy and cold and hot temperature performance.[6]
Nio is cooperating with a number of suppliers including Bosch.[7]
Specifications
editThe ES8 is powered by a 70 kWh or 84 kWh lithium-ion battery pack (upgraded to 100 kWh in 2019) that is also swappable.[8]
The ES8 is a 6 or 7-seater full-size production car, with a wheelbase of 2,997 mm (118 in) and a body length of 5,022 mm (198 in). The body and chassis are completely aluminum (96.4%), and the drivetrain is all-wheel drive as standard, and also features active air suspension. The design includes the X-bar and Nio's signature "Spark Beat" taillights.[9][10]

2020 facelift
editIn March 2020, a revised ES8 was released. It uses a combination of 160 kW (215 hp; 218 PS) permanent magnet and 240 kW (322 hp; 326 PS) induction magnet motors. It can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.9 seconds[11] and a NEDC range rating of up to 580 km (360 mi).[12] From 2020, the digital cockpit was upgraded to a 9.8-inch display with an 11.3-inch high-definition multi-touch center display. The NOMI Mate 2.0 features an industry-first circular AMOLED display, with much larger active display area. Additionally, ES8 comes with a smart charging port cover and NFC key card. Euro NCAP confirmed a 5 star rating for the ES8 in September 2021.[13]

Safety
editSecond generation (2023–2025)
edit| Second generation | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Model code | Aries |
| Also called | Nio EL8 (Europe) |
| Production | 2023–2025 |
| Assembly | China: Hefei, Anhui |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Dual-motor, all-wheel drive |
| Platform | NT 2.0 |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | AC induction/asynchronous, Permanent magnet motor |
| Transmission | 1-speed direct-drive reduction |
| Battery | |
| Electric range |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,070 mm (120.9 in) |
| Length | 5,099 mm (200.7 in) |
| Width | 1,989 mm (78.3 in) |
| Height | 1,750 mm (68.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,585 kg (5,699 lb) |
The second generation Nio ES8 was unveiled during the Nio Day in December 2022 riding on the NT2.0 platform.
Specifications
editThe second generation model features a 180 kW (241 hp; 245 PS) front motor and a 300 kW (402 hp; 408 PS) rear motor reaching a combined maximum power output of 480 kW (644 hp; 653 PS) and 850 N⋅m (627 lb⋅ft) of torque. Acceleration from 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) is just under 4.1 seconds. Three battery packs are available as well as a battery leasing program, with the 75 kWh battery supporting a CLTC range of 465 km (289 mi), the 100 kWh pack supporting a CLTC range of 605 km (376 mi), and the 150 kWh pack supporting a CLTC range of 900 km (559 mi).[16]

| Battery | Years | Layout | Output | Torque | 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) (official) |
Top Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 kWh | 2023–2025 | AWD | 480 kW (653 PS; 644 hp) | 850 N⋅m (627 lb⋅ft) | 4.1 s | 200 km/h (124 mph) |
| 100 kWh |
Third generation (2025–present)
edit| Third generation | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Model code | Cetus |
| Production | 2025–present |
| Assembly | China: Hefei, Anhui |
| Body and chassis | |
| Layout | Dual-motor, all-wheel drive |
| Platform | NT 3.0 |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Power output | 520 kW (697 hp) |
| Battery | 102 kWh NMC CATL |
| Electric range | 635 km (395 mi) (CLTC) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,130 mm (123.2 in) |
| Length | 5,280 mm (207.9 in) |
| Width | 2,010 mm (79.1 in) |
| Height | 1,800 mm (70.9 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,630 kg (5,798 lb) |
The third generation ES8 was revealed through China's MIIT filings on 20 June 2025. It is codenamed Cetus[18] and rides on the NT 3.0 platform, which it shares with the flagship Nio ET9. It launched on 20 September 2025 at Nio Day 2025.[19]

Exterior
editInterior
editThe ES8 is available in either 2+2+2 six-seater or 2+3+2 seven-seater configurations. The dashboard contains a 15.6-inch central infotainment display and a 38-inch AR-HUD serving as the instrument cluster.[20]
Specifications
editThe third generation ES8 features a 180 kW (241 hp; 245 PS) front-mounted motor and a 340 kW (456 hp; 462 PS) rear-mounted motor for a total of 520 kW (697 hp; 707 PS) and 700 N⋅m (516 lb⋅ft) of torque, with the rear being 40 kW (54 hp; 54 PS) more than its predecessor. It achieves a 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3.97 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph).[20]
Sales
editTwo days after the launch of the third-generation ES8 on 20 September 2025, production capacity for 2025 had sold out with estimated delivery dates reaching as far as March 2026,[21] with an externally estimated 40,000 locked-in orders and 100,000 cancellable pre-orders.[22] Deliveries of the third-generation ES8 reached the 10,000 milestone on 31 October 2025,[23] 20,000 on 29 November 2025,[24] 30,000 on 18 December 2025,[25] and 40,000 on 28 December 2025.[26] Nio sold 22,258 ES8s in December 2025 alone.[27]
| Year | China |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 12,807[28] |
| 2019 | 8,169 |
| 2020 | 11,106 |
| 2021 | 20,943 |
| 2022 | 14,380 |
| 2023 | 14,138[29] |
| 2024 | 9,188[30] |
| 2025 | 42,889[31] |
References
edit- ↑ "NIO begins delivery of ES8 SUV". Autocar India. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ↑ "NIO Officially Introduces ES8 In Norway". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ↑ "Vehicle". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
- ↑ "NIO officially launches NIO EC6, third production model". Gasgoo.
- ↑ "NIO Unveils Production Vehicle for China Market". www.nio.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ↑ "NIO Unveils Production Vehicle for China Market". www.nio.com. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "NIO Teams With Bosch For EV-Related Components". InsideEVs. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ↑ "Nio to roll out battery as a service". Retrieved 2018-08-18.
- ↑ "Leasehackr Takes Us Behind The Wheel of The NIO ES8 SUV". insideevs.com. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ↑ "Nico Rosberg test drives the Nio ES8 electric SUV". Motor Authority. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
- ↑ "NIO ES8 - Beyond Expectations". www.nio.com. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
- ↑ "NIO begins delivery of updated ES8 smart electric flagship SUV". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ↑ "Official NIO ES8 2021 safety rating". www.euroncap.com. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
- ↑ "C-NCAP官方网站|测评结果". www.c-ncap.org.cn. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
- ↑ https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/nio/es8/43499
- ↑ "【图】全新ES8/EC7上市!NIO Day 2022来了_汽车之家". www.autohome.com.cn.
- ↑ "汽车之家|蔚来ES8|报价大全|参数配置". car.autohome.com.cn. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-09-09). "Spy shots: Nio ES9 spotted for 1st time". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-09-05). "Nio Day 2025 to be held on Sept 20 in Hangzhou". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- 1 2 Miao, Liu (2025-09-05). "Nio's new ES8 launch set for September 20 as company aims for Q4 profitability". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-09-23). "Nio ES8 capacity for 2025 sold out with new customers facing earliest deliveries in Mar 2026". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-09-21). "Nio's new ES8 capacity of 40,000 units for this year already sold out, report says". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-10-31). "Nio's 3rd-gen ES8 surpasses 10,000 deliveries 40 days after launch". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-11-29). "Nio hits 20,000 deliveries for 3rd-gen ES8 SUV". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-12-18). "Nio hits 30,000th delivery of 3rd-gen ES8 SUV". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2025-12-29). "Nio hits 40,000th delivery of 3rd-gen ES8, 11 days after 30,000th milestone". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ Zhang, Phate (2026-01-10). "Nio ES8's Dec sales of 22,258 units propel it to China's best-selling large SUV". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
- ↑ "蔚来ES8汽车销量排行榜_蔚来ES8 历史销量数据_SUV汽车网". www.cnsuv.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ↑ "December, 2023 auto sales of NIO _in China - Gasgoo". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
- ↑ "December, 2024 auto sales of NIO _in China - Gasgoo". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2025-02-21.
- ↑ "【易车销量榜】全国2025年蔚来终端量销量榜-易车榜-易车". car.yiche.com. Retrieved 2026-01-27.