Chinese smart electric vehicle maker NIO has reached a major milestone: its 1,000,000th vehicle has officially rolled off the production line at NIO Factory Two in Hefei, Anhui Province.
For the Chinese EV maker, this moment marks far more than a production number—it represents a decade of rapid growth, technological ambition, and industry transformation.
Founded in late 2014, NIO has steadily built a full-spectrum capability covering vehicle R&D, design, manufacturing, sales, and user services. From the launch of its first Founders’ Edition ES8 in 2018 to today’s million-vehicle achievement across its three brands—NIO, ONVO, and firefly—the company has become a defining force in China’s smart electric vehicle movement.
To commemorate the milestone, NIO donated its one-millionth production vehicle—an All-New NIO ES8 in Nebula Green—to the Micius Quantum Foundation in Anhui. The donation will support mobility needs for leading researchers in quantum science, underlining NIO’s commitment to advancing frontier technologies in China. Alongside this gesture, NIO also unveiled the ET9 Milestone Edition, created to honor innovators from across different industries.
Reaching one million vehicles is not only a landmark for NIO, but also a reflection of the broader rise of China’s smart EV industry. 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. Together, these shifts signal China’s transition from a manufacturing giant to a global automotive powerhouse.
Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), highlighted the significance of the achievement at the event. He noted that NIO’s success goes beyond scale, representing sustained innovation, premium brand development, and meaningful contributions to the transformation of China’s automotive industry.
Behind NIO’s growth lies a long-term strategy rooted in both bold vision and disciplined execution. Guided by its “Vision, Action” philosophy, the company has invested approximately RMB 65 billion in technology research and development, building capabilities across 12 core smart EV technologies. In parallel, NIO has committed RMB 18 billion to charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, resulting in 8,541 charging and Power Swap stations across China and more than 96 million battery swaps delivered to date. These investments are now translating into real-world user value and durable competitive advantages.
“One million vehicles is not an endpoint—it’s a new beginning,” said William Li, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NIO. According to Li, NIO is entering its third stage of development, focused on high-quality growth. The company plans to continue investing in its full-stack technology capabilities, expand infrastructure to more than 10,000 charging stations and 10,000 battery swap stations by 2030, and strengthen collaboration across its three brands. While deepening its presence in China, NIO also aims to expand globally in a more focused and efficient way, delivering premium smart electric mobility experiences worldwide.
The milestone event also underscored NIO’s commitment to open collaboration. The company signed a framework agreement with Chery Automobile and JAC Motors to jointly build an automotive innovation platform, as well as a vehicle-chip industrialization partnership with Lontium Semiconductor Corporation. These partnerships further reinforce NIO’s vision of a collaborative, win-win automotive ecosystem.
