Nio will officially unveil the 2026 versions of its ET5 sedan, ET5 Touring station wagon, ES6 SUV, and EC6 coupe SUV on Thursday, the company said on Wednesday — updating the four models that once formed the backbone of its sales before the third-generation ES8 took over.
The launch arrives just two days into the second quarter, accelerating a timeline that management had set during last month’s earnings call when it said the 2026 model-year updates would come in Q2 amid the “strengthening the product lineup.”
“[…] In addition, the ET5, ET5T, ES6 and EC6 will introduce the 2026 versions in Q2,” the company’s founder and CEO William Li said on March 10. “Overall, the Nio brand will continue strengthening the product lineup and its position in the premium BEV market.”
A launch event is scheduled for 6:00 pm Beijing Time on Thursday.
The EV maker has not revealed when it plans to begin deliveries of the revamped models.
What Is Known
Nio said the four updated models will feature design upgrades, enhanced configurations, and improved smart driving experiences.
The company did not provide further details including pricing.
Li had previously mentioned that the models will gain blue driver-assistance indicator lights and that the ES6 and EC6 will offer an optional zero-gravity driver’s seat.
The 2025 editions of the ET5 and ET5 Touring, launched in May last year, included over 500 upgrades across design, performance, and intelligent systems while maintaining prices unchanged.
It is not yet known whether the 2026 versions will be shipped to Europe and other recently expanded markets, where Nio currently sells 2023 and 2024 model-year vehicles from its older NT 2.0 platform.
The ES8’s Dominance
The update comes as the four models have been heavily overshadowed by the third-generation ES8, which has become Nio‘s dominant product since launching in September.
In January, the ES8 accounted for 84.5% of the Nio brand’s deliveries in China. In February, that figure was 74.3%.
An executive said on Tuesday that Nio would mark the delivery of the 90,000th third-generation ES8 this week, implying approximately 20,000 units delivered in March alone.
The ES8 offers six- and seven-seat configurations with a starting price of 406,800 yuan including the battery.
Co-founder and President Qin Lihong said the model generates a gross margin of approximately 20%, or about 80,000 yuan per unit.
Product Launches
The 2026 model-year refresh comes amid several new model launches for the Shanghai-headquartered group.
The company is set to reveal the ES9 — its new flagship SUV and replacement for the ES8 at the top of the lineup — at a technology event on April 9, with sales opening in May and deliveries beginning June 1.
Qin Lihong also revealed that a five-seat version of the ES8 will launch in early July.
It marked the first time Nio has mentioned a five-seat ES8 variant — raising questions about whether the ES7 nameplate, which was discontinued in China last year after weak sales, has been permanently shelved.
Nio‘s sub-brand Onvo will also launch the L80 large SUV in May. The first images from the Chinese MIIT catalogue revealed that the five seat SUV has a similar exterior design to the three row model L90 launched last year
European Implications
The four models being updated on Thursday are the same vehicles currently offered in Nio‘s European markets — where the lineup consists entirely of 2023 and 2024 model-year stock built on the NT 2.0 platform.
Nio has been running clearance promotions on the ET5, ET5 Touring, and EL6 (the European name for the ES6) through March 31, including discounted battery subscriptions and financing incentives.
Whether the 2026 model-year versions will be exported to Europe remains unknown.
The company faces a 30.7% combined tariff on vehicles imported into the EU and is in the process of transitioning its European sales operations from a direct model to a distributor-based approach, as EV exclusively reported on March 5.
Nio is currently present in 11 European countries but has not confirmed plans to refresh its regional lineup with third-generation platform vehicles.
The company’s US-listed shares soared by 9.4% on Tuesday to $6.03.
