Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer launches updated flagship SUV with enhanced battery technology and autonomous driving capabilities starting from RMB 468,000 (£48,200 / $65,600).
NIO has officially launched the third-generation ES8 electric SUV at NIO Day 2025, with the flagship model featuring significant improvements in range, technology, and design refinements.
The updated six or seven-seater SUV offers up to 930km of range on the CLTC cycle using NIO’s latest 150kWh semi-solid-state battery pack, representing a substantial increase over the previous generation’s maximum range.
Pricing starts from RMB406,800 (£42,350 / $57,200) with the Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription, or RMB 558,000 (£57,500 / $78,100) for outright purchase including the standard 102kWh battery.
Customer deliveries commence from today with the ES8 maintaining its position as NIO’s flagship family SUV in an increasingly competitive premium electric vehicle market.
The third-generation ES8 adopts NIO’s latest design language while retaining the distinctive proportions that have defined the model since its original launch.
At 5,280mm long, 2,010mm wide, and 1,800mm tall, with a wheelbase of 3,130mm, the ES8 is the largest electrified SUV available in China in a segment not short of large SUVs.
The front fascia features NIO’s signature front end styling with double-dash daytime running lights, a crisp and high nose, and lower headlamp elements above a lower grille.
There’s a thicker full-width daytime running light than previously at the rear, and numerous aero features such as flush glass and pop-out door handles, while there are also three LiDAR units for the ADAS system.
The ES8’s cabin lives up to NIO’s commitment to luxury and technology integration, with a redesigned interior featuring premium materials throughout, including Nappa leather, wood, microfiber, and metal speaker grates.
The dashboard centres around NIO’s latest infotainment system, featuring a 48-inch letterbox style screen for the digital instrument display and another display ahead of the front passenger, while there’s a 15.6-inch 3k screen in the centre.
In the rear, there’s a 21.4-inch mini-LED screen for entertainment, a smaller screen below to control ventilation, seat functions, and the drawer that can cool to -2C and heat to 55C, while there are dual captain’s chairs in the six-seat variant and a second-row bench in the seven-seat version.
Second-row passengers benefit from heating, ventilation, and massage functions, while the third row seats come with heating. There’s also a 27-speaker sound system producing 2,600W.
The third-generation ES8 offers a singular drive and battery system from launch, with dual motors producing 520kW of power and 700Nm of torque for a 3.97-second 0-100kph sprint.
The only battery available from launch is a 102kWh unit capable of delivering up to 635km of range on the CLTC cycle, though a future 120kWh NIO in-house-developed battery will be made available at a later stage.
The battery is of course capable of being swapped at a NIO Power Swap station, which enables any battery for exchanged for one with 93 percent charge in around three minutes, but NIO hasn’t provided any details of how fast the ES8 will charge on its 900-volt platform.
Average energy consumption is claimed to be just 16.6 kWh/100 km on the CLTC cycle.
The ES8 incorporates NIO’s latest Banyan autonomous driving system, featuring enhanced sensor arrays and processing power for improved urban and highway driving assistance.
The system includes three LiDAR units alongside cameras and radar units to provide comprehensive environmental awareness. NIO has indicated that the ES8 will receive regular over-the-air updates to expand autonomous driving capabilities as regulations permit.
Safety features include a comprehensive suite of active and passive systems, with the ES8 targeting five-star safety ratings in applicable markets.
The vehicle’s construction utilises high-strength steel and aluminium components to optimise crash protection while maintaining structural efficiency.
NIO’s pricing strategy for the all-new ES8 is noteworthy for the considerable haircut the car has taken over the second-generation car which was only launched 18 months ago.
The new model, starting at RMB406,800 (£42,350 / $57,200), is over RMB 100,000 cheaper than the second-generation, and with the battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model it starts from just RMB299,800 (£31,100 / $42,000).
Both six- and seven-seat Luxury variants have the same starting price, while the six-seat Signature version starts from RMB446,800 (£46,500 / $62,800), with a BaaS price of RMB338,800 (£35,300 / $47,600)/
The ES8 will initially focus on the Chinese domestic market, though NIO’s international expansion could see the model reach European markets in subsequent years.
