NIO begins pre-sale of all-new ES8 flagship SUV ahead of September market launch

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 21, NIO opened pre-sales for its all-new ES8, positioned as a full-scenario technology flagship SUV. The Executive Luxury Edition, available in both six- and seven-seat layouts, starts from 416,800 yuan, or 308,800 yuan under the company’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) rental scheme. The higher-end Executive Signature Edition is priced from 456,800 yuan, or 348,800 yuan with BaaS.

Photo credit: NIO

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late September. Customers who place a deposit of 5,000 yuan before hitting the market will receive a 10,000-yuan discount off the final purchase price.

Photo credit: NIO

The all-new ES8 is designed as a premium large three-row SUV, offered in six-seat (2+2+2) and seven-seat (2+2+3) configurations. Measuring 5,280 mm long, 2,010 mm wide, and 1,800 mm tall, with a 3,130 mm wheelbase, it emphasizes space and practicality. NIO CEO William Bin Li underscored this by showcasing the SUV’s cargo capacity, fitting 12 suitcases across its front and rear trunks during the launch event.

Photo credit: NIO

Seen as a strategic model for the brand, the all-new ES8 is built on NIO’s NT3.0 platform. It debuts a 900V ultra-fast charging and battery-swapping architecture and comes standard with a 102 kWh battery pack, good for a CLTC-rated range of 635 km. A 120 kWh pack currently in development will support 5C charging rates and three-minute battery swaps. Dual motors drive all four wheels, enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in just 3.97 seconds.

For ADAS capabilities, the SUV integrates three LiDAR units, including a tower-mounted long-range front sensor and two wide-angle side sensors, paired with a 4D imaging radar. Together, they create a 350-degree LiDAR-based perception field with a maximum sensing coverage of 400,000 square meters.

The ES8 carries symbolic weight for NIO as the company’s first mass-produced model, originally going on sale in December 2017 with a starting price of 448,000 yuan before subsidies. At the time, buyers opting for BaaS paid 100,000 yuan less upfront and a monthly rental of 1,280 yuan. Subsequent updates and facelifts have pushed the current ES8’s price to 498,000 yuan, or 428,000 yuan under BaaS.

Today, NIO’s lineup includes the ES and ET series, ranging from the entry-level ET5 priced from 298,000 yuan to the flagship ET9 at 768,000 yuan. Its second brand, ONVO, currently offers the L60 and L90, while its third brand, FIREFLY, sells a single model under the same name.