Expansion of Sales Team: Nio Hires 800 Sales Representatives Prior to Launch of the 3rd-Generation ES8 Model
Nio's Third-Generation ES8 Electric SUV Set for Debut in Late September
Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) has announced that its third-generation ES8, a large electric SUV, will make its debut later this month, with deliveries scheduled for late September 2025. The official unveiling took place on August 21, 2025, during a product and technology event in Hefei, China.
The new ES8 is built on Nio's NT3.0 architecture and features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, offering approximately 697 hp and a CLTC-rated range of 635 km on a 100 kWh battery. Ultra-fast charging supports 600 kW peak power, enabling a 250 km range in just 5 minutes, and battery swap takes about 3 minutes.
The starting price for the third-generation ES8, including the battery pack, is RMB 498,000 ($69,380). However, customers can opt for Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), which excludes the battery cost, starting at RMB 308,800 ($43,000) for the 100 kWh battery version. Pre-orders require a refundable deposit of approximately 5,000 yuan ($700).
Nio's expansion of its sales team is part of its preparations for the traditional peak sales season in the third and fourth quarters and the launch of the higher-end ES9 SUV next year. The company has hired 800 sales professionals with experience at Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, and Volvo.
Showroom models of the third-generation ES8 will be available at Nio stores on August 21. The first-generation ES8 was launched on December 16, 2017, and the second-generation ES8 was rolled out on December 24, 2022.
Nio's founder, chairman, and CEO William Li, as well as Yang Bo, the company's head of user operations, announced these developments on Weibo. The company has also reportedly moved its Nio Day event to the fall.
The third-generation ES8 has been spotted without camouflage in real life, indicating that its debut is imminent. The publication reported the news yesterday.
*Exchange rate: $1 = RMB 7.1775.
- Nio's third-generation ES8, an electric SUV scheduled for debut in late September 2025, is built on Nio's NT3.0 architecture and offers a CLTC-rated range of 635 km on a 100 kWh battery.
- The new ES8, which features a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system and ultra-fast charging capabilities, will be available at Nio stores on August 21, following its unveiling during a product and technology event in Hefei, China.
- The starting price for the third-generation ES8, including the battery pack, is RMB 498,000 ($69,380), but customers can opt for Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS), which starts at RMB 308,800 ($43,000) for the 100 kWh battery version.
- Nio's preparation for the traditional peak sales season in the third and fourth quarters and the launch of the higher-end ES9 SUV next year includes the hiring of 800 sales professionals with experience at major automotive brands like Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, and Volvo.
- The automotive technology industry, including finance and transportation sectors, has been keeping a close eye on the developments at Nio, as the third-generation ES8, with its impressive performance and charging capabilities, is expected to make a significant impact in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
