Nio’s new ES8 launch set for September 20 as company aims for Q4 profitability
Nio has officially announced the launch date for its all-new ES8 flagship SUV. The vehicle, which began pre-sales last month with starting prices from 416,800 yuan (58,000 USD), with the Baas version starting from 308,800 yuan (43,000 USD), will officially hit the market on September 20 during the company’s Nio Day 2025 event in Hangzhou.
The timing is strategic as Nio pushes toward its ambitious goal of achieving quarterly profitability by Q4 2025.
Built on Nio’s latest 900V high-voltage platform, the all-new ES8 SUV features dimensions of 5,280 /2,010/1,800mm with a 3,130mm wheelbase, available in both six and seven-seat configurations.
Performance specifications include a dual-motor system delivering a combined 520 kW (697 hp) of power and 700 Nm of torque, enabling 0-100km/h acceleration in 3.97 seconds. The 102kWh battery pack provides a CLTC range of 635km with energy consumption of 16.6kWh per 100km.
The vehicle’s intelligent driving capabilities are powered by the Aquila sensing system featuring three LiDAR sensors, while the interior showcases a 38-inch AR head-up display and a 15.6-inch central control screen, running on Nio’s SkyOS operating system.
Nio’s financial results for the first half of 2025 showed signs of improvement despite ongoing challenges. The company delivered 114,200 vehicles during this period, representing a 30.57% year-on-year increase, while revenue grew 23.10% to 31.04 billion yuan (4.31 billion USD). However, net losses reached 11.75 billion yuan (1.63 billion USD).
In the second quarter, Nio managed to narrow its losses compared to Q1, primarily through cost-cutting measures, including workforce reductions, that helped decrease expenses by 955 million yuan (133 million USD) quarter-on-quarter.
According to Chinese magazine Caijing, Nio’s founder and chairman William Li has emphasised that Q4 profitability is non-negotiable, stating, “About 30-40% of potential users don’t buy Nio cars because they worry about whether the company will survive. If we become profitable, this rumour will naturally disappear.”
Editor’s comment
The official launch price is typically somewhat lower than the pre-sale price. Therefore, CarNewsChina estimates that the all-new ES8’s official launch price will be below 400,000 yuan (55,000 USD), with the BaaS version coming in under 290,000 yuan (40,000 USD).
