- Nio has begun shipping the third-generation ES8 to stores as part of preparations for its rapid delivery, with the official launch set for this Saturday.
- Nio commenced test drives for the new ES8 in China on September 10, with stores extending operating hours due to high demand.
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) has begun shipping the third-generation ES8 to its stores in China as part of preparations for rapid delivery of the SUV (sport utility vehicle).
“The all-new ES8 has now commenced nationwide shipping to ensure immediate delivery upon launch,” the company said today on Weibo.
“Among the vehicles being shipped, perhaps your very own all-new ES8 is included,” it wrote.
Nio will hold its Nio Day 2025 event in Hangzhou, Zhejiang on September 20, when the third-generation ES8 will be officially launched.
Similar to its approach with the L90 SUV under its sub-brand Onvo, Nio has undertaken extensive preparations ahead of the new ES8’s official launch to enable rapid deliveries and secure initial orders.
On September 12, Nio began allowing Chinese consumers to select configurations for the third-generation ES8, reducing hesitation when the model officially opens for orders on September 20.
Nio debuted the third-generation ES8 on August 21 and commenced pre-sales for the large SUV, offering substantial upgrades while pricing it significantly lower than its predecessor.
The third-generation ES8 comes standard with a 100-kWh battery pack, with pre-sales pricing starting at RMB 416,800 ($58,530) including the battery.
This represents a reduction of RMB 139,200, or 25.04 percent, compared to the older 100-kWh ES8’s starting price of RMB 556,000.
Under the BaaS (Battery as a Service) plan, the third-generation ES8 starts at RMB 308,800, lower than the RMB 428,000 BaaS starting price for the older 100-kWh ES8.
On September 10, Nio began accepting test drive reservations for the new ES8 in China.
Last week, Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li said on Weibo that Nio stores have been exceptionally busy since opening test drives for the all-new ES8.
To meet test drive demand, all Nio stores in China have extended closing times, with some locations scheduling test drives until 1:00 am, Li noted on September 11.
R&D costs are spread across multiple models, and greater scale has helped Nio reduce costs.
