The Nio ES8 was the company’s first mass-produced vehicle. It is a battery-electric full-size SUV that established Nio as a manufacturer of production electric cars rather than only a technology startup.
Nio unveiled the first-generation ES8 in December 2017, and production began in 2018 for the Chinese market. Deliveries started in June 2018. The six- or seven-seat SUV used a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout and an aluminium-intensive body, positioning it as a premium family vehicle.
The ES8 also helped introduce Nio’s battery-swapping approach. Its battery pack could be exchanged at dedicated stations instead of being recharged only in the vehicle, and buyers could use Nio’s Battery as a Service program in markets where it was offered.
The ES8 is sometimes confused with the smaller ES6, or with the ET7 sedan, both of which arrived later. “First mass-produced vehicle” refers to Nio’s first series-production model, not necessarily the first vehicle the company ever displayed or tested as a concept.