Chinese EV maker Nio has asked authorities in Hefei, where its manufacturing plants are located, to help coordinate labor resources to address a worker shortage.
In a letter dated September 29 and made public this Thursday, the company said it needs to fill “about 1,000” vacancies before the end of October as orders for its latest models are “booming.”
New orders for Nio’s three-row ES8 SUV now face a delivery wait of about six months, while its Onvo L60 and L90 models have waiting times that can exceed two months, as reported by EV earlier this week.
Nio urged the municipal governmentto mobilize local vocational schools, training institutions and employment agencies to identify qualified candidates.
The company pledged to comply with China’s labor laws, provide reasonable pay and benefits, and ensure proper social insurance contributions and training for new hires.
Nio’s Anhui-based manufacturing unit wrote that it had delivered robust growth this year, with 166,000 vehicle sales between January and August, up 30% from a year earlier.
As reported by EV in late August, the company has been stepping up hiring over the last few months as production begins at its third factory.
Nio‘s third factory is located in Changfeng County, Hefei, and spans about 1,600 acres, equivalent to nearly 6.5 square kilometers.
For comparison, the company’s first plant — previously operated in partnership with JAC — covers roughly 1,095 acres.
The NeoPark Factory (F2), located in Xinqiao, extends across about 1,130 acres.
Last year, Reuters reported, citing internal sources, that Nio had received approval for a third factory with a potential annual capacity of 600,000 units once fully built.
Nio later clarified that F3’s initial capacity would be about 100,000 units based on a single-shift schedule.
The EV maker said in the letter total wholesale vehicle sales in 2024 reached 69.3 billion yuan ($9.6 billion), an increase of 23%, while production value rose 32% to 59.9 billion yuan.
The Hefei government has long supported Nio as one of the city’s key industrial projects.
The company set up its China headquarters there in 2020 and later obtained independent manufacturing qualifications in 2023, allowing it to directly produce and sell its vehicles closing the JAC partnership at its F1 factory.
Here’s the translation of Nio’s full letter sent to the Hefei Government:
Request from Nio to Coordinate Labor Resources to Help Increase Production Capacity
To: Municipal Government
Since the establishment of Nio China’s headquarters in Hefei, the company has completed the localization of R&D, manufacturing, sales, and service operations, as well as the production of key components. With strong support from provincial and municipal governments, Nio obtained independent vehicle production qualifications at the end of 2023 and has been actively contributing to local economic development.
In 2024, Nio achieved wholesale vehicle sales of 69.3 billion yuan, an increase of 23% year-on-year; the company’s overall production and sales of electric vehicles generated 59.9 billion yuan in output value, up 32% year-on-year.
From January to August 2025, Nio’s new vehicle sales reached 166,000 units, a 30% year-on-year increase.
In the third quarter of this year, with the launch of new 3.0-platform models — the large three-row electric SUV Onvo L90 and the new ES8 — market demand has been strong, and orders are booming.
However, due to labor shortages in the local manufacturing sector, production capacity has been constrained, which has significantly affected vehicle deliveries and order fulfillment.
According to internal estimates, Nio needs to resolve a shortfall of about 1,000 workers by the end of October.
Therefore, the company respectfully requests that the municipal government coordinate assistance by connecting with local vocational colleges and training institutions to facilitate practical talent export, and to recommend qualified candidates who meet the requirements of the production positions.
At the same time, Nio will actively cooperate with the city’s employment agencies and recruitment campaigns to broaden information outreach.
We pledge to strictly comply with the Labor Law of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant regulations, provide reasonable salaries and benefits, ensure proper social insurance contributions, and offer training to enhance employees’ skills and capabilities.
Nio Automobile Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd.
September 29, 2025
