• Sources at the facility said that Nio is working around the clock to ramp up production capacity for the all-new ES8.
• The F3 factory currently lacks a formal front gate, and the project department responsible for constructing the facility has not yet withdrawn from the site.

Nio Inc (NYSE: NIO) mentioned in early June that its F3 factory in Hefei, Anhui would begin production in September, though no official announcement has been made to date.

Now, a local media reporter has visited the facility and shared their observations.

On September 19, the day before Nio held Nio Day 2025 and launched its third-generation ES8 SUV (sport utility vehicle), a Yicai reporter visited Nio's F3 factory in Hefei's NeoPark. This facility is located about 7 kilometers from Nio's F2 factory.

Workers, security personnel, and suppliers at the facility confirmed to the reporter that Nio is working around the clock to prepare production capacity for the all-new ES8, according to the Yicai report today.

Production of the all-new ES8 will primarily take place at the F3 factory, Yicai cited multiple sources as saying.

The F3 facility currently lacks a formal front gate, and the project department overseeing its construction has not yet vacated the site. However, a temporary signboard indicates this is the location of the F3 factory, the report said.

Unlike a month prior, the area designated as "worker dormitories and parking lot" now displayed a full array of parked vehicles.

The reporter walked to the end of the area and observed construction materials still scattered on the ground, yet to be cleared.

Through the wire fence, workers in uniforms could be seen moving about the factory premises.

A female employee wearing a T-shirt with Nio logo revealed that production at the factory had been ongoing.

A supplier representative said that the facility was currently producing the Nio ES8.

As a long-term supplier to Nio, he recently noticed a significant increase in supply demands and had recently transferred from the F2 factory to support F3.

However, due to a four-day disruption in some parts supply, certain production lines halted operations starting September 18 and were expected to resume by September 22, the source said. Production in other segments continues, he added.

Nio currently operates two factories in Hefei -- F1 and F2 -- each with an annual designed capacity of 300,000 vehicles.

Regarding F3's actual production capacity, beyond Nio's previously said single-shift capacity of 100,000 units, no further official response has been provided, Yicai said.

During a June 3 earnings call, Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li mentioned that the company's third factory would officially commence production in September, with some production lines operating on a two-shift system as needed.

On July 6, Li reiterated this timeline while leading renowned Chinese author and ET9 owner Wu Xiaobo, along with nearly 100 entrepreneurs, on a tour of the F2 factory.

Nio has recently faced significant production constraints, particularly following the launch of the new ES8 and the L90 large SUV from its sub-brand Onvo.

At the launch event for the third-generation ES8, Li announced a production target of 40,000 units for the SUV this year.

During a September 2 earnings call, Nio management said that the new ES8 production capacity would reach 10,000 units monthly in October and 15,000 units monthly by December.

Chinese customers ordering the new ES8 now are expected to receive delivery 24-26 weeks after order confirmation, indicating the model's 2025 production capacity is already sold out.