Chinese EV manufacturerNiostarted deliveries of its highly anticipated EL8 electric SUV in Europe. Known as the ES8 in its home market, the EL8 began its pre-orders in Europe three months ago. The first batch of EL8s was now handed over to customers, much to the delight of the company and its growing European fanbase.
Nio's journey in Europe began in 2021 with the launch of the original ES8 in Norway. Since then, the company has expanded its presence to include Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark. The introduction of theEL8, built on Nio's advanced NT 2.0 platform, is a major leap forward in terms of technology and performance. The new model comes with a range of cutting-edge features, including a LiDAR system for enhanced autonomous driving capabilities.
The company's battery swap stations, which allow users to quickly exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones, have proven very popular in China and are expected to be a key differentiator in Europe as well.
Despite facing challenges such as additional tariffs imposed by the European Union on EVs from China, Nio has reaffirmed its commitment to the European market. The company has been actively expanding its infrastructure in the region, with a particular focus on battery swap stations. As of today, Nio operates 56 battery swap stations across Europe.
The EL8 is a roomy and opulent electric SUV that can travel up to 510 km on a single charge. It features a panoramic sunroof, a top‑tier audio system, and a comprehensive set of driver‑assist technologies. Inside, the cabin blends style with practicality, offering generous legroom and ample cargo capacity.
Although the EL8’s base price of €94,900 in Germany may seem high for many buyers, Nio’s battery‑as‑a‑service option can cut the initial cost substantially. With this plan, customers pay a monthly fee of €169 to lease the battery instead of buying it outright, resulting in a short‑term savings of €12,000. The fully equipped EL8, equipped with the larger battery, is priced at €103,900—comparable to the Mercedes EQE SUV.
