Nio electric cars will officially appear in Russia: which models will be delivered and by when

The Chinese brand Nio is preparing to officially enter Russia: in 2026, the ES6 and ES8 crossovers, as well as the flagship ET9 sedan, will be brought here, and later they may be joined by the ES9 all-terrain vehicle.

Nio’s official entry into Russia: timing and stages

The Chinese premium electric brand Nio, whose cars have hitherto reached Russia through gray imports, is preparing for its official launch in our market. The first batches of electric cars are planned to be imported from July 2026, and by October the company expects to receive vehicle type approval (VTA) and begin full-fledged official deliveries.

The start of Nio's Russian presence will be divided into two stages. In the summer, dealers will begin selling cars imported through parallel imports, actually testing out the models and service infrastructure. After receiving OTTS in October, sales will become fully official, with a formalized guarantee and access to the brand's proprietary service programs.

Which Nio models will come to us

At the first stage, three Nio models will appear in Russia - two crossovers and one sedan.

Nio ES6 is a mid-size crossover with a length of about 4.85 m, in the second generation and after restyling in 2025. It is equipped with a dual-motor all-wheel drive power plant and a battery with a capacity of up to 100 kWh; in China, prices are in the range of 338–350 thousand yuan, which corresponds to approximately 3.75–3.9 million rubles.

Nio ES8 is a large three-row crossover with a length of about 5.28 m with air suspension and two electric motors with a total power of up to 707 hp, powered by a 100–102 kWh battery. The current model is already in its third generation and in China costs about 4.5–5 million rubles.

Nio ET9 is a flagship four-door electric car over 5.3 m long with a body atypical for a classic sedan and the same power plant as the ES8: all-wheel drive, up to 707 hp, acceleration to 100 km/h in approximately 4.3 seconds and a range of up to 650 km on the CLTC cycle with a battery of 100 kWh.

A little later, the line for Russia may be supplemented by the new large crossover Nio ES9 - the largest battery-powered SUV made in China, for which pre-orders were opened in China in April at a price starting from 420 thousand yuan (about 4.8 million rubles) excluding the rented battery.

Previously - only “gray” imports, now official premium

Until 2026, Nio electric cars were available in Russia only through parallel imports: individual dealers and companies importing cars from China brought ES6, ES7, ES8 and ET7 in single copies, without warranty support from the plant and the official dealer network. Against this background, the official launch of the brand means the emergence of a full-fledged service, standardized supplies of spare parts and a more predictable pricing policy.

For Nio, the Russian market is interesting as one of the key export destinations for Chinese electric vehicles: according to industry statistics, Russia remains the largest foreign market for Chinese passenger cars in general, although it is still inferior to a number of other countries in the supply of “pure” electric cars and hybrids. For Russian buyers, this is a chance to gain access to premium EV models with advanced electronics and proprietary services such as fast charging and, potentially, quick battery replacement technologies, if the brand decides to develop such infrastructure here.

What to expect next from Nio in Russia

Nio's plans in Russia are so far limited to a few thousand machines per year - the company openly states that 2026 will be the “foundation year” for future expansion in Europe and the CIS countries. The success of the first models ES6, ES8 and ET9 will largely determine whether the market will receive other electric cars from the brand, including more affordable crossovers and sedans.

The release of Nio fits into the general trend: the Russian market is gradually becoming a showcase for premium Chinese electric brands, which are testing the demand for expensive EVs here against the backdrop of a shortage of offers from European and Japanese manufacturers. If the strategy works, by the end of the decade Russian buyers will be able to choose among several Chinese premium electric brands, and not just among mass-produced crossovers with traditional internal combustion engines.