Nio’s flagship SUVs, the ES9 and ES8, have become central to the company’s delivery results in June 2026. According to data compiled by the China Passenger Car Association, both models accounted for a significant share of Nio’s total deliveries, with the ES9 marking its first full month on the market.
ES9 Achieves Strong Debut in June
The ES9 delivered 8,595 units in June 2026, representing 21.17% of Nio Inc’s total deliveries for the month and 39.23% of the Nio main brand’s deliveries. This marks a 176.54% increase from May, when the model delivered 3,108 units in just four days after its launch on May 27.
Nio announced on June 26 that cumulative ES9 deliveries had surpassed 10,000 units, reaching this milestone in about 30 days. The ES9 starts at $73,215 (~AUD 105,595) for full purchase, or $57,337 (~AUD 82,695) under the BaaS battery rental scheme.
ES8 Sees Decline Ahead of New Variant Launch
The ES8 delivered 8,969 units in June, a decrease of 21.85% from the previous month, ending a streak of seven consecutive months with deliveries above 10,000. Despite this, ES8 deliveries were up 969.01% year-on-year compared to June last year.
The five-seat ES8 opened for pre-orders on June 28 and will be officially launched on July 9, joining the existing six-seat and seven-seat versions. The third-generation ES8 starts at $59,807 (~AUD 86,257) and is described as a high-gross-margin model. The ES8 completed its 120,000th delivery on June 22, 275 days after initial deliveries began in late September 2025.
Flagship SUVs Drive Nio’s June Performance
Combined, the ES9 and ES8 delivered 17,564 units in June, accounting for 43.3% of Nio Inc’s total 40,597 units delivered and 80.2% of the main brand’s 21,908 units. The average transaction price for the Nio brand reached $65,129 (~AUD 93,933) in June.
Other models saw significant declines: the ES6 SUV delivered 1,219 units (down 72.39% year-on-year), the ET5 Touring delivered 1,822 units (down 64.30% year-on-year), while the ET5 and EC6 delivered 618 and 549 units, respectively.
Overall Deliveries and Sub-Brand Performance
Nio Inc delivered a total of 40,597 units in June 2026, up 62.88% year-on-year and marking a monthly high for the year. However, the second-quarter total of 107,658 units fell short of the company’s guidance range of 110,000 to 115,000 units.
Sub-brands Onvo and Firefly contributed 11,743 and 6,946 units, respectively, to the June total.
Competitor Comparison
The ES8 is positioned as a family vehicle, competing with Li Auto’s Li L8 and the Huawei-backed Aito M8. The ES9 is aimed at business and executive customers, with competitors including the Aito M9 and Zeekr 9X.
Why this matters
The strong performance of the ES9 and ES8 highlights the growing importance of flagship SUVs in Nio’s lineup, driving both volume and higher average transaction prices. The rapid uptake of the ES9, in particular, demonstrates strong demand for premium all-electric SUVs in China’s competitive market.
These results also show a shift in consumer preferences, with Nio’s mainstay models outperforming other offerings and helping the company achieve record monthly deliveries despite some models seeing significant declines.
What this means for buyers
Buyers considering a Nio SUV now have a broader range of options, with the ES9 and multiple ES8 variants available. Those interested in family-oriented vehicles may look to the ES8, while business users might prefer the ES9. With new variants launching and strong delivery momentum, prospective customers can expect continued support and updates for these flagship models.
Key Specs
- ES9 June Deliveries: 8,595 units
- ES8 June Deliveries: 8,969 units
- ES9 Starting Price: $73,215 (~AUD 105,595)
- ES9 BaaS Price: $57,337 (~AUD 82,695)
- ES8 Starting Price: $59,807 (~AUD 86,257)
- Total Nio Inc June Deliveries: 40,597 units
- Average Nio Brand Transaction Price (June): $65,129 (~AUD 93,933)
- Combined ES9 and ES8 Share of Nio Inc Deliveries: 43.3%
Source
Images sourced from: cnevpost.com, globalchinaev.com, motorwatt.com
