Exclusive: Nio to Launch Flagship SUV EL8 in Europe on June 13
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Electric vehicle manufacturer Nio is preparing to expand its European lineup with the introduction of its flagship sport utility vehicle, the EL8, originally launched in China in late 2022.
An Ho, Nio‘s general manager for the Norwegian market, hinted at the model’s impending launch in Europe via a post on LinkedIn.
Amid a legal battle with Audi over trademark rights to the “ES” naming convention for its SUV models in Europe, Nio will name the European version of the ES8 as the EL8, mirroring the strategy adopted for its smaller SUVs, the EL6 and EL7, introduced in Europe last year.
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The revamped EL8, unveiled at Nio‘s annual event in December 2022, boasts two motors with a combined peak power output of 480 kW, propelling the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.
The model marked a shift to its second platform and arrived the market in China in three distinct versions – the standard model, Executive Edition, and Signature Edition.
In its home market, the All-New ES8 starts at 498,000 rmb, equivalent to $68,700 and €63,500 while the most upper version starts at 598,000 rmb ($82,500).
Nio plans to stage a coordinated launch event for the EL8 across its showrooms in Germany, with the date set for June 13, according to information on the Nio App.
“As pioneers in the premium intelligent electric vehicle market, we are thrilled to unveil a new product on June 13. Join us to be among the first to experience our latest offering and engage with our product specialists in a relaxed environment,” Nio stated.
The launch event will be simultaneously held at 6:30 pm local time at Nio Houses in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Düsseldorf, as well as at the Nio Hub in Munich.
Earlier today, the general manager for Norway An Ho teased the upcoming launch of Nio’s biggest model by writing “A grand arrival is coming soon. Guess which one”.
“When you’re passionate about creating the ultimate EV driving experience, you push to find new definitions and accelerate towards the future. A grand arrival is coming soon. Guess which one ;),” he wrote.
When prompted by a user suggesting that Ho was referring to the EL8, the general manager chose neither to confirm nor to deny.
On Wednesday, the brand sent an email announcing that is temporarily cutting prices of two of its models in Germany. In April, and according to official data from the German Federal Motor Transport Association, the brand registered a total of 53 vehicles in the country.
The discounts, which go up to $11,000 (€10,250), follow a recent introduction of a 0 percent annual interest rate announced in early May which applies to the most expensive sedan, the ET7.
At the time, the company also announced that the entry-level SUV EL6 can be leased from €599 per month, including Battery as a Service subscription.
In April, the brand registered 53 vehicles in the country marking the second consecutive month of growth after selling 27 units in February and 48 in March.
During the first quarter of this year, the EV manufacturer registered 102 cars, a decrease of 25 per cent from the 136 units registered during the same period in 2023.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
