Nio's new ES8 has reached a milestone of 150,000 cumulative deliveries in the 12 months since its market launch, according to Chinese automotive outlet D1EV. The 150,000th vehicle was handed over on September 20, 2026, by Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong at a Nio experience center in Beijing's Future Science City.
The new ES8, a large battery-electric SUV (BEV), has set a sales record in the 400,000-yuan (about $56,300) segment, the company said. In August 2026, retail sales of the model reached 10,991 units, making it the best-selling large SUV and the top seller among vehicles priced around 400,000 yuan. The model also ranked first in net promoter score among all BEVs in a brand health study by J.D. Power's Chinese affiliate Jielan Road, scoring 85.3 points.
Shift to electric in large SUV segment
The sustained deliveries have accelerated the large SUV segment's transition to battery power. From January to August 2026, cumulative sales of pure-electric three-row SUVs reached 259,900 units, leading all powertrain types for seven consecutive months. Since the new ES8 began deliveries in September 2025, pure-electric three-row SUV sales have outpaced range-extender electric vehicles (EREVs) for 12 straight months.
In August 2026, pure-electric five-seat large SUVs outsold their range-extender counterparts for the first time, topping all powertrain types and posting month-on-month growth for five consecutive months. By August 2026, the penetration rate of BEVs in the large SUV segment had reached 44%, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous month and 23.1 percentage points year-on-year.
According to D1EV, the milestone underscores Nio's position in the premium electric SUV market, where it competes with models from Li Auto, Xpeng, and other Chinese brands. The new ES8 is available with both battery-swapping and charging options, reflecting Nio's broader strategy of offering flexible energy services.
