Images reveal ongoing road trials of the third-generation Nio ES8 electric SUV
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio is gearing up for the launch of two new flagship SUV models, the third-generation ES8 and the upcoming ES9, in the coming years.
The third-generation ES8, a larger electric SUV, is set to be unveiled at a yet-to-be-announced event in late August 2025. Display vehicles will be available in stores at that time, followed by an official launch and delivery at the Nio Day 2025 event in late September 2025.
Measuring 5,280 mm in length, 2,010 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,250 mm, the third-generation ES8 is larger than its predecessor. It comes in six- and seven-seat configurations, offering ample space for passengers. The model will feature the same 102-kWh battery pack as the ET9.
Spy photos of the new ES8 have been shared by car blogger @德卤爱开车, who believes it looks better in real life than in its regulatory filing photos. Nio's third-generation ES8 is strategically repositioned to appeal to a broader audience with a focus on volume sales, potentially without including every top-tier advanced technology from Nio.
In contrast, the ES9, expected to be launched in the first half of 2026, is anticipated to be a more luxurious, flagship SUV model equipped with Nio's most advanced and expensive technologies, targeting a higher-end market segment.
Nio's first mass-produced model, the ES8, was launched on December 16, 2017. The second generation ES8 was launched on December 24, 2022, transitioning to the NT 2.0 platform. However, the new ES8 may not use Nio's top-of-the-line technologies, as there are more advanced 9-series models.
In the first half of this year, 3,109 ES8s were delivered, down 29.71 percent year-on-year. The ES8, with a starting price of RMB 498,000 ($69,400) including the battery pack, currently serves as Nio's flagship SUV.
The ES9's launch is eagerly awaited, as it is expected to set new standards in luxury and technology for Nio's SUV lineup. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting new models from Nio.
- The third-generation ES8, a larger electric SUV from Nio, is scheduled to be unveiled in late August 2025, featuring a 102-kWh battery pack like the ET9.
- Spy photos of the new ES8 have been shared, showcasing a design believed to look better in real life than in its regulatory filing photos.
- Although the third-generation ES8 aims for volume sales, it may not include every top-tier advanced technology from Nio, strategically repositioning the model to appeal to a broader audience.
- In contrast, the ES9, launching in the first half of 2026, is anticipated to be a more luxurious, flagship SUV equipped with Nio's most advanced and expensive technologies, targeting a higher-end market segment.
- Despite a decrease in sales, the ES8, with a starting price of RMB 498,000 ($69,400) including the battery pack, currently serves as Nio's flagship SUV.
- The ES9's launch is highly anticipated, as it is expected to set new standards in luxury and technology for Nio's SUV lineup, contributing to the growth of the transportation and automotive industry.
