China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has included the next-generation Nio ES8 in its latest list of new energy vehicle (NEV) models eligible for purchase tax exemptions.
According to the filing, the new ES8 is equipped with a 102 kWh battery pack, offering a CLTC-rated range of 635 km — approximately 30 km more than the current version.
Curb weight is listed at 2,630 kg, with the battery pack weighing 545 kg.
The ES8 will be officially unveiled at Nio Day 2025, the EV maker’s annual event, which is tentatively scheduled for late September, according to Nio co-founder and president Qin Lihong.
The new model will mark the third iteration of Nio’s flagship seven-seat SUV, first launched in 2018 and revamped in late 2022.
The current version, based on the NT2.0 platform, began deliveries in China in mid-2023 and entered select European markets in September 2024.
The 2025 ES8, internally referred to in MIIT filings under model code NAL6533BSEVE1, is significantly larger than its predecessor.
Dimensions listed in the filing show the new SUV measures 5,280 mm in length, 2,010 mm in width, and 1,800 mm in height, with a 3,130 mm wheelbase — all larger than the outgoing model, which is 5,099 mm long, 1,989 mm wide, and 1,750 mm tall with a 3,070 mm wheelbase.
The latest filing was first reported by X user ‘Cnevhome’.
The model will be built on a new-generation 900V electrical platform, enabling ultra-fast 5C charging that can add over 250 km of range in five minutes or complete a full battery swap in around three minutes.
The new generation of Nio’s battery swap stations is expected to further reduce the average swap time while accommodating more battery packs per station.
The system delivers peak charging power of 600 kW, peak current of 765 A, and peak voltage of 925 V.
The ES8 will retain Nio’s dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration, combining a 180 kW induction asynchronous motor with a 340 kW silicon carbide permanent magnet synchronous motor for a total output of 520 kW.
It will also feature the company’s Aquila Super Sensing system, including a roof-mounted LiDAR unit, dual side LiDARs, 4D imaging radar, and a proprietary autonomous driving chip developed in-house.
While not yet confirmed, the new ES8 is expected to be offered in multiple seating configurations, mirroring the approach taken with the Onvo L90 — the family-oriented SUV recently unveiled by Nio’s mass-market sub-brand.
With the introduction of the five-seat configuration, the new ES8 is rumoured to replace the ES7 (known as the EL7 in Europe), which Nio is preparing to phase out due to underwhelming demand.
Nio has been gradually updating its product lineup this year as competition in the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) market becomes stronger than ever. In May, it began deliveries of refreshed 2025 versions of its ET5 sedan, ET5 Touring, ES6, and EC6 models in China.
