NIO’s all-new ES8 will be unveiled at a technology launch in August and officially launched at the NIO Day in September.
On August 6, a camo-free version of NIO’s new ES8 was spotted by a passerby in Xizang. Judging by the setting, the vehicle appeared to be part of an advertising shoot—hinting that the ES8 is about to enter the promotional phase.
The vehicle was photographed from a rear-side angle, clearly revealing the third-generation ES8’s smoother lines and minimalistic design language that still conveys strength.
The new ES8 measures 5280mm in length, 2010mm in width, and 1800mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3130mm—both longer and wider than the AITO M9 and Li Auto L9. Compared to the current ES8, the third-generation model has increased in length by 181mm, width by 21mm, height by 50mm, and wheelbase by 60mm, making it significantly larger in size.
Despite being nearly 5.3 meters long, this large SUV manages to project a strong presence without looking bulky, thanks to the vehicle’s refined and restrained design elements.
According to NIO’s product roadmap, the new ES8 will be introduced at a tech launch event in August, with its formal market debut set for NIO Day in September. NIO’s Head of User Operations, Yang Bo, has also confirmed, “The new model will be unveiled this month and delivered next month,” suggesting a launch and delivery strategy similar to that of the ONVO L90.
During the ONVO L90 launch event, a NIO car club member shared a detailed promotional timeline: the third-generation ES8 will arrive in showrooms on August 21, nationwide test drives will start on September 12, and the official launch is set for September 20.
In June, the all-new ES8 completed its MIIT regulatory filings. Built on the NT 3.0 platform, the vehicle offers both six-seat and seven-seat configurations. Compared to the current model, the new ES8’s wheelbase has been extended by 60mm, significantly improving rear-seat legroom.
The ES8 supports a 900V ultra-fast charging and battery swapping platform, delivering up to 250km of range in just 5 minutes with 5C peak charging speed, and a complete battery swap in 3 minutes. For intelligent driving, it comes equipped with the flagship Aquila Super Sensing System, including a long-range lidar sensor on the roof, dual side wide-angle lidars, and a 4D imaging radar.
With the current ES8 struggling with monthly sales in the low hundreds, the third-generation model carries the crucial responsibility of breaking through the volume bottleneck. According to Daiwa Capital, the strong early performance of the ONVO L90—with 1,976 orders in three days—has laid a solid foundation of market confidence for the ES8.
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