The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has seen its share price climb more than 9% after unveiling its ES8 SUV model.
Nio shares rallied after the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker unveiled a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV) model. Following the news, the firm’s US-listed shares rose 9.27% to close at $5.54 on Thursday, reaching 10-month highs. Shares in Hong Kong also rose as much as 10% on Friday morning.
The ES8 SUV becomes one of Nio’s most affordable EV cars and is a strong signal of the company’s intent to remain a key player in the highly-competitive domestic Chinese market.
Widely considered to be a high-end market competitor, Nio aims to broaden its market appeal in China. It already offers the budget-friendly ET5T sedan model, which currently retails at 298,000 yuan ($41,500).
Pre-orders for the ES8 SUV began on Thursday, with prices starting from 308,800 yuan ($43,000) under a special battery subscription plan, which lowers upfront costs. Other variants of the ES8 SUV, including its “executive premium edition,” are priced from 416,800 yuan ($58,000).
Nio targets strong domestic growth
The rollout of the ES8 SUV models comes as China’s electric vehicle sector faces increased pressure. Nio, along with EV rivals including Li Auto and BYD, each experienced a recent fall in car deliveries.
In total, 21,017 units were delivered in July, down from 24,925 units in June, whereas competitors like Xpeng, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, and Aito reported growth. In response, Nio has accelerated its local ambitions with the latest generation of the ES8, which originally launched in 2017.
Its specifications are impressive, with the All-New ES8 officially the largest battery-powered SUV in China. The vehicle features a 900-volt high-voltage system, a 102 kWh battery, and dual motors producing 520 kW.
Designed with high-performance built-in, the ES8 accelerates from zero to 100 km per hour in just under four seconds. Nio executives have confirmed that deliveries for the latest ES8 will commence in late September 2025. Meanwhile, customer handovers will begin in the period immediately following the model’s launch.
Nio’s bold future expansion plans
The EV giant is also planning a wider global expansion as its rivals start to strengthen their own international presence. The company has confirmed plans to grow its presence in Singapore, Uzbekistan, and Costa Rica between 2025 and 2026.
In Singapore, retail operations will begin in early 2026 under Wearnes Automotive, the chosen distributor. Nio also expects to finalise a distributor agreement in Malaysia soon, further boosting reach across its Southeast Asia.
Nio founder William Li recently repeated his aim to reach profitability in the fourth quarter of 2025. To support this, the firm reduced costs by limiting research spending while boosting efficiency. Company chiefs believe these changes can protect margins despite offering more affordable vehicles.
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