NIO has reached a major production milestone with the rollout of its one millionth vehicle, underscoring the rapid growth and technological maturity of China’s smart electric vehicle ecosystem. Established in late 2014, NIO has built an end-to-end capability spanning vehicle research and development, design, manufacturing, sales and user services.
From the launch of the NIO Founders Edition ES8 in 2018 to achieving cumulative production of one million vehicles across its three brands – NIO, ONVO and Firefly, the company has emerged as a major force in shaping China’s next-generation EV industry.
To celebrate the milestone and support innovation in leading technologies, NIO donated its millionth vehicle – a brand-new NIO ES8 finished in Nebula Green – to the Missius Quantum Foundation in Anhui. This vehicle will provide mobility support to leading researchers and experts in quantum science. Additionally, NIO also unveiled the ET9 Milestone Edition, created to honor innovators and contributors across various industries.
Beyond the company’s achievement, the milestone reflects the broader rise of China’s smart electric vehicle sector. New energy vehicle production in China is expected to exceed 15 million units in 2025, with Chinese automakers projected to surpass Japanese brands in global vehicle sales for the first time. As a result, China is rapidly transforming from a large-scale manufacturing base to a global automotive innovation powerhouse.
Fu Bingfeng, executive vice president and secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), addressed the event: “As a leading representative of China’s EV startups, NIO has gained valuable experience in technological innovation and premium brand development, making important contributions to the transformation and upgrading of China’s automotive industry. Today, the rollout of NIO’s 1,000,000th production vehicle is more than a milestone in the scale. It stands as a vivid testament to NIO’s long-term commitment to innovation, brand excellence and user service, as well as the continued progress of China’s NEV industry.”
Behind this growth is not only scale and speed, but also a sense of bold vision coupled with disciplined action. Driven by the spirit of “Vision, Action”, NIO has invested 65 billion RMB in technology research and development, building systematic capabilities in 12 core smart EV technologies. In charging and battery swapping infrastructure, NIO has invested RMB 18 billion, installing 8,541 charging stations and power swap stations in China, cumulatively providing more than 96 million battery swaps. These long-term investments are now translating into tangible user value and sustained competitive advantage.
William Lee, Founder, Chairman and CEO of NIO, said, “One million vehicles is a new starting point. NIO is entering its third phase of development, with the main objective being high-quality development.” “Looking ahead, we will continue to invest in our 12 full-stack technology capabilities to maintain leadership in both technology and products. We are committed to infrastructure development, aiming to exceed 10,000 charging and battery swapping stations by 2030. We will further strengthen the synergy across our three brands, expand market share in each segment, and maintain annual volume growth of 40% to 50%. “Our presence in China Deepening our vision, we will also expand globally in a more stable and efficient manner, bringing leading smart electric mobility experiences to users around the world and shaping a sustainable and brighter future.
At the event, NIO signed a framework agreement with Chery Automobile and JAC Motors on the co-construction of an automotive innovation platform, and also signed a vehicle-chip industrialization partnership with Lontium Semiconductor Corporation, promoting an open, collaborative and win-win industrial ecosystem.