Nio makes 100kWh battery standard and slashes EV prices again

Chinese electric car maker Nio announced a major shakeup to its pricing and product strategy. Starting immediately, the company will fit its entire lineup of electric cars with its larger 100 kWh long-range battery pack as standard, effectively slashing prices for its most capable models and addressing one of the biggest complaints from its customer base: driving range. The announcement was made on the first day of the 2025 Chengdu auto show.

Although it might appear as just a minor tweak, it's actually a big price reduction disguised as a standard equipment upgrade. Previously, all Nio models, including the popular ET5 sedan and EC6 SUV, came with a 75 kWh battery, with buyers paying a hefty premium for the 100 kWh pack. Now, the starting prices for all models remain the same but include the bigger battery.

This means a direct price cut of RMB 38,000 (about $5,350) for customers who would have otherwise opted for the long-range battery. This latest cut comes on the heels of another recent RMB 20,000 ($2,810) reduction on the optional battery pack, making the new pricing even more aggressive.

The Nio ET5 sedan and its wagon sibling, the ET5 Touring, now both start at RMB 298,000 (approximately $41,900) with the 100 kWh pack. Before this change, that same configuration would have set a buyer back RMB 336,000 ($47,000) - that's a price drop of over 11 percent.

The price adjustments apply across the board for all of Nio's electric cars. The ES6 SUV now starts at RMB 338,000 ($47,500), the coupe-styled EC6 starts at RMB 358,000 ($50,300), the flagship ET7 sedan is priced from RMB 428,000 ($60,200), and the top-tier EC7 SUV starts at RMB 458,000 ($64,400).

Why the sudden generosity? It seems that a combination of customer feedback and market realities forced Nio's hand. Some owners and potential buyers had voiced concerns that the 75 kWh battery's range was falling behind competitors, many of whom now offer electric cars that can travel up to 497 miles on a single charge.

With its sales down 19% year-over-year from January to July 2025, Nio needed to make a bold move. This new strategy directly tackles the range anxiety issue, with all models now promising a CLTC range of around 435 miles, with the ET5 sedan leading the pack with an impressive 460 miles of range.

For those who like Nio's unique Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription model, that option hasn't changed. Buyers can purchase a Nio vehicle without the battery at a much lower initial cost and then pay a monthly fee. The 75 kWh pack is still available under this plan for RMB 728 ($102) per month, while renting the new standard 100 kWh pack costs RMB 1,128 ($158) per month. Buying a car without the battery drops the entry price of an ET5 to just RMB 190,000 ($26,700).

To smooth things over with recent customers who just missed out on the new pricing, Nio is offering gift vouchers worth RMB 6,000 to anyone who took delivery of a new vehicle between January 1 and August 28 of this year. The company also rolled out a series of new perks for September buyers.

Depending on the model, customers can receive benefits like a free home charging kit, five years of free Navigate on Pilot Plus (NOP+) assisted driving service, interest-free financing, and even free battery swaps.

Via