NIO is set to reach the milestone of its 1,000,000th mass-produced vehicle nearly eight years after its first ES8 rolled off the production line in June 2018. On the evening of January 1, 2026, NIO CEO William Li, after concluding the “Yunnan-Tibet Battery Swap Corridor Live Stream,” issued a New Year’s internal letter to all employees. In the letter, Li first affirmed the team’s efforts and achievements in 2025. It was mentioned that NIO delivered a total of 326,028 new vehicles in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 46.9%, setting a new historical record for annual deliveries. Specifically, the single-month delivery in December reached 48,135 units, also marking the best monthly performance to date. Li particularly highlighted that the ONVO L90, within five months of its launch, achieved cumulative deliveries of 43,439 units, securing the top spot in annual sales for large pure-electric SUVs. Meanwhile, the all-new NIO ES8 delivered 22,256 units in December, setting a new record for monthly deliveries among models priced above 400,000 RMB. NIO’s Yunnan-Tibet Battery Swap Route Achieves Full Connectivity. Li revealed in the letter that NIO “will shortly achieve the milestone of its 1,000,000th mass-produced vehicle rolling off the line.” This news has been officially confirmed, with the company scheduled to hold the offline ceremony for its 1,000,000th mass-produced vehicle at the NIO Advanced Manufacturing Xinqiao Plant II (F2) on January 6. From the first mass-produced model, the ES8, rolling off the line in June 2018 to the imminent arrival of the 1,000,000th vehicle, NIO has taken nearly eight years to reach this milestone. The All-New ES8 Delivers 40,000 Units in 100 Days. Li stated in his judgment within the letter that “the competition in the smart electric vehicle industry has entered the final stage.” He expressed that competition in the automotive industry is a “long-term contest of 3-5 percentage points efficiency gap,” and only those with industry-leading operational efficiency can survive. To this end, NIO underwent “difficult but necessary” organizational adjustments in 2025, strengthening company-wide business awareness and cost-control capabilities. To address the competition in this final stage, Li outlined five key focus areas for NIO in 2026 in his letter: Persist in Technological Innovation: Continue steadfast investment around 12 core full-stack technologies for smart electric vehicles to ensure a leading technological advantage. In 2026, the NIO World Model (NWM) will achieve algorithmic breakthroughs, leading to the launch of several major versions. Accelerate the Construction of Charging and Battery Swap Networks: Plan to add over 1,000 new battery swap stations throughout the year, bringing the total number of swap stations to over 4,600 by year-end. Additionally, aim to complete more than 100 “Recharge Scenic Route” corridors. Large-scale construction of the fifth-generation battery swap stations will commence from the second quarter. Expand the Sales and Service Network: The three brands—NIO, ONVO, and Firefly—will jointly strategize to penetrate lower-tier markets, aiming to cover sales and service networks in over 210 prefecture-level cities. Advance Global Expansion: Plan to cumulatively enter markets in 40 countries and regions, with the Firefly brand acting as the “vanguard” to take the lead. Deepen Organizational Transformation: Build grassroots business units centered on user value, creating a management mechanism that involves all employees and operates efficiently. NIO’s Battery Swap Station at Meili Snow Mountain Officially Begins Operation. Regarding product planning, Li also disclosed that NIO will launch three all-new models in 2026, which are expected to further increase the company’s market share in the premium large vehicle segment. According to previous media reports, these three new models may include the NIO ES9, ES7, and the ONVO L80. The launch of these new products will further enrich NIO’s product matrix in the premium market, strengthening its market competitiveness.