Nio lowers prices for the next-gen ES8 in China

The ES8 is the SUV model with which Nio first entered the market, not counting the sports car developed purely for PR purposes. Since Nio’s product cycles are significantly shorter than the seven years customary in the automotive industry, the manufacturer has already introduced the third generation, at least in China.

Visually, the new ES8 resembles the second-generation model, which was launched in Europe last summer as the EL8. However, the new model (with a slightly more angular look) is the first Nio to be based on the NT3.0 platform, which is said to offer a number of improvements in terms of technology and, above all, cost. At 5.28 metres, the ‘new’ model is another 18 centimetres longer, 2.01 metres (without exterior mirrors), 2.1 centimetres wider, at 1.80 metres, another five centimetres higher, and the wheelbase has grown by six centimetres to 3.13 metres. Like its predecessor, the ES8 is available as a six-seater (2+2+2) or seven-seater (2+3+2). The boot has a capacity of between 547 and 3,230 litres, and there is now also a 230-litre frunk under the bonnet.

With the NT3.0 platform, the upcoming Nio models are switching to a 900-volt architecture, which was first shown in the flagship ET9. The power output is 520 kW (180 kW with an induction motor at the front and 340 kW with a permanent magnet synchronous motor at the rear), and Nio specifies the maximum torque as 700 Nm. A 102 kWh battery is installed in the underbody, which, as is typical with Nio, can also be changed at the ‘Power Swap Stations’ within a few minutes. With the 900-volt architecture, charging times are also significantly reduced if no Power Swap Station is available: With a charging rate of up to 5C or 600 kW at peak, the ES8 should be able to recharge enough power for 250 kilometres in the Chinese CLTC cycle in five minutes. With a full battery, Nio specifies the standard range as 635 kilometres.

The top models remain the ET9 and the ES9 SUV offshoot, which is currently in development, but the ES8 is also designed to offer a high level of comfort as a premium SUV with chauffeur character. For this reason, the model features a two-chamber air suspension that can lower the vehicle by five centimetres in Easy Entry mode, for example. The driver assistance systems also include several lidar sensors, a 4D radar and numerous cameras. Another new feature is that the Nvidia ‘Orin-X’ chip has been replaced by a five-nanometre chip developed by Nio itself called NX9031, which, according to Nio CEO William Li, is said to have saved a lot of money.

Li aims to significantly reduce costs with measures such as his own chip, self-developed electric motors, the 900-volt platform and renegotiated supplier contracts. Some materials in the ES8 have also been changed to reduce the proportion of slightly more expensive aluminium. As a result of these measures, Nio has been able to significantly reduce the price of the ES8. In the pre-sale that has now started, the model with a purchased battery costs at least 416,800 yuan, or just over 50,000 euros. With battery rental, the price is even lower at 308,800 yuan or 37,200 euros, but then there are the monthly costs for battery rental. The CarNewsChina portal even claims to have learned that the introductory price at the actual market launch on Nio Day at the end of September will be less than 300,000 yuan for the BaaS (Battery as a Service) version.

“We brought the price of ES8 where it should be,” Li explained during a media event after the pre-sale launch of the ES8. “The price adjustment is not a short-term move but a result of Nio’s ability to adjust.”

However, Li did not stop at this statement, but also stated that Nio was ‘fighting for survival,’ which was currently the top priority. In doing so, he was actually alluding to the fact that the lower prices were likely to cause criticism among existing customers, as they had purchased their now-outdated ES8 at significantly higher prices. “Nio must prioritise the bigger picture as survival is the most important thing. The new pricing may hurt the feelings of some existing users in the short term, but in the long run, this pricing strategy will help Nio maintain its competitiveness in the fierce market,” is the full quote. The Nio founder probably anticipated that the statement about the company’s survival would be widely reported and draw attention to the new model.

carnewschina.com, cnevpost.com, nio.com (all models), carnewschina.com (Li statements)

This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.