Nio ES8 Gen 3, China’s largest pure electric SUV

Nio has begun presales for the new ES8 large SUV in China on August 21, with a starting price of 416,800 yuan (approx. 58,150 USD). Buyers selecting the BaaS (Battery-as-a-Service) option can purchase the vehicle from 308,800 yuan (approx. 43,080 USD), with the battery portion deducted at 108,000 yuan (approx. 15,070 USD). Deliveries are scheduled for late September.

The new ES8 has been upgraded in size and positioning compared with the previous generation, moving from the mid-to-large SUV segment to the large SUV category. Its dimensions are 5,280 mm in length, 2,010 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and 1,800 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,130 mm. This represents increases of 181 mm, 21 mm, 50 mm, and 60 mm, respectively. Both six-seat (2+2+2) and seven-seat (2+3+2) layouts are available.

Exterior

The ES8 adopts Nio’s “Design for Success” design language. It features a dual-layer “Double Dash” daytime running light design and HD projection headlights (HDPL) with lane-tracking and light-tracing functions.

Additional exterior features include hidden door handles, a concealed rear wiper, and a rear light bar composed of 600 LEDs and 480 SuperRed particles. Six body colours are offered, including the exclusive Xinglan Grey, and the vehicle comes with 22-inch forged wheels fitted with Pirelli P Zero tires.

Interior

The cabin is redesigned with multiple colour options and includes a 48-inch “Skyline display”, a 16.4-inch AMOLED centre screen, and a 38-inch AR-HUD with blind spot projection. The SUV has a three-spoke steering wheel, stalk-mounted gear selector, dual wireless phone chargers, and piezoelectric ceramic micro-motion buttons.

The six-seat version features second-row seats that recline up to 151 degrees and support leg extension heating. All rows include seat heating, while selected seats offer ventilation. Additional interior features include five-zone climate control, folding tables, a refrigerator, a 27-speaker, 2,600-watt Dolby Atmos audio system, and a 21.4-inch rear ceiling-mounted display with 3K resolution.

Cargo space is 547 litres, expandable to 3,230 litres with seats folded, with an additional 230-litre front trunk.

Powertrain

The ES8 uses a dual-motor four-wheel-drive system on a 900-volt architecture, shared with the Nio ET9. The front induction motor delivers 180 kW and 300 Nm, while the rear permanent magnet synchronous motor produces 340 kW and 400 Nm. Combined output is 520 kW with 700 Nm of torque, enabling 0–100 km/h acceleration in 3.97 seconds.

Battery

A 102 kWh battery pack is standard, providing a CLTC range of 635 km. The vehicle supports peak charging of 600 kW at 925 volts, with up to 5C charging rates. Nio states that a five-minute charge can restore up to 250 km of range.

Suspensions

The ES8 features dual-chamber air suspension adjustable by ±50 mm. Standard ground clearance is 165 mm, with a maximum wading depth of 650 mm. Easy Entry mode lowers the vehicle by 50 mm for boarding, and Easy Load mode lowers the suspension when opening the trunk.

Driver assistance

Driver assistance hardware includes a roof-mounted LiDAR, wide-angle LiDAR units, 4D imaging radar, multiple cameras, and Nio’s NX9031 chip. The system integrates with the Nio World Model (NWM). Exterior mirrors include a blue indicator light for driver assistance status.

Market Position

With its larger size and updated specifications, the ES8 competes with large electric SUVs such as the Aito M8 (from 378,000 yuan, approx. 52,740 USD) and the Aito M9 (from 509,800 yuan, approx. 71,120 USD). According to China EV DataTracker’s sales data, the previous ES8 generation sold 1,090 units in July 2025.