Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 12th January 2026: NIO’s 1,000,000th vehicle rolled off the production line at NIO Factory Two in Hefei, Anhui Province, marking another significant milestone for the company.
Since its founding in late 2014, NIO has built a comprehensive system capability spanning vehicle research and development, design, manufacturing, sales, and user services. From the rollout of the first NIO Founders’ Edition ES8 in 2018 to today’s production milestone of one million vehicles across its three brands, NIO, ONVO, and firefly, NIO has exemplified the momentum and vitality of China’s smart electric vehicle industry.
To support innovation and research in frontier technologies in China, NIO donated its 1,000,000th production vehicle, an All-New NIO ES8 in Nebula Green, to the Micius Quantum Foundation in Anhui, providing mobility support for leading experts in the quantum science field. At the same time, NIO unveiled the ET9 Milestone Edition, honoring innovators across industries.
Reaching one million vehicles is not just a milestone for NIO. It also reflects the technological and brand advancement of China’s smart EV industry. China’s new energy vehicle production in 2025 is expected to surpass 15 million units, and Chinese automakers are projected to outpace Japanese brands in global vehicle sales for the first time. Chinese automakers are reshaping the global automotive landscape, transforming China from a major manufacturing hub into a global automotive 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 significant contribution 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 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 advancement of China’s NEV industry in technology and brand.”
Behind this growth lies not only scale and speed, but also a spirit of bold vision paired with disciplined action. Guided by the spirit of “Vision, Action,” NIO has invested RMB 65 billion in technology research and development, building systematic capabilities across 12 core smart EV technologies. In charging and battery swapping infrastructure, NIO has invested RMB 18 billion, establishing 8,541 charging stations and Power Swap Stations in China, delivering over 96 million battery swaps cumulatively. These long-term investments are now translating into tangible user value and sustained competitive advantage.
“One million vehicles is a new starting point. NIO is entering its third stage of development, with high-quality growth as the core objective,” said William Li, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NIO. “Looking ahead, we will continue investing across our 12 full-stack technology capabilities to maintain leadership in both technology and products. We remain committed to infrastructure development, aiming to exceed 10,000 charging and battery swapping stations each by 2030. We will further strengthen synergy across our three brands, expand market share in each segment, and maintain annual volume growth of 40% to 50%. While deepening our presence in China, we will also expand globally in a more steady and efficient manner, bringing leading smart electric mobility experiences to users worldwide and shaping a sustainable and brighter future.”
At the event, NIO signed a framework agreement with Chery Automobile and JAC Motors on co-building an automotive innovation platform and also signed into a vehicle-chip industrialization partnership with Lontium Semiconductor Corporation, further fostering an open, collaborative, and win-win industrial ecosystem.
