Nio ES8

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

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]

First generation (2018–2023)

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	75 kWh Li-ion 84 kWh Li-ion 100 kWh Li-ion [4]
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

The 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]}

Rear view

2020 facelift

In 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]

Nio ES8 2020 (facelift)

Safety

C-NCAP (2018) test results
2019 Nio ES8 7-seater ^[14]

Category		%
Overall:		88.4%
Occupant protection:		92.87%
Vulnerable road users:		67.79%
Active safety:		88.38%

Euro NCAP test results
Nio ES8, 6 seat (LHD) (2021) ^[15]

Test	Points	%
Overall:
Adult occupant:	31.5	82%
Child occupant:	41.5	84%
Pedestrian:	39.3	72%
Safety assist:	14.8	92%

Second generation (2023–2025)

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	75 kWh Li-ion 100 kWh NMC 150 kWh NMC
Electric range	510 km (317 mi) (WLTP, 100kWh) 465–900 km (289–559 mi) (CLTC)
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

The 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]

Rear view

Specs ^[17]

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)

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	Nio ES9 Onvo L90
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 will launch on 20 September 2025 at Nio Day 2025. ^[19]

Rear view

Exterior

Compared to its predecessor, the third generation model grew by 181 mm (7.1 in) in length, 21 mm (0.8 in) in width, and 50 mm (2.0 in) in height. Its design takes on a similar approach to the ET9 and the facelifted ES6 and EC6.

Interior

The 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

The third generation ES6 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

Two 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

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15. https://www.euroncap.com/en/results/nio/es8/43499
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21. 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.
22. 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.
23. Zhang, Phate (2025-10-31). "Nio's 3rd-gen ES8 surpasses 10,000 deliveries 40 days after launch". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
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26. 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.
27. 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.
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